After months of advocating from several tribal nations, Arizona is home to a new national monument, as President Joe Biden this week officially designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, effectively barring mining on roughly a million acres of land near Grand Canyon National Park.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to honoring and respecting Tribal sovereignty, protecting Tribal homelands, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and robust Tribal consultation into planning and decision-making,” White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory said.

The Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of multiple tribal nations across the Southwest, and tribes still rely on the canyon for natural and cultural resources that are significant and sacred to their communities.

“Today’s designation supports tribally-led conservation efforts and helps address injustices of the past, including when tribes were forcibly removed from lands that later became Grand Canyon National Park,” Mallory said.

In April,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2023/04/12/tribal-leaders-support-push-for-creation-of-grand-canyon-national-monument/">tribal leaders, alongside state and federal officials, launched an effort to sustain the natural resources of the Grand Canyon</a>&nbsp;by calling on Biden to designate land surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park a national monument by using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906.

Their efforts have succeeded, as the White House announced Tuesday that Biden designated the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The name is a mixture of the traditional Havasupai and Hopi languages. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe.

On Tuesday evening, the president was to sign the proclamation in Arizona at Red Butte, a sacred site known as Wii’i Gdwiisa by the Havasupai Tribe, which towers above the southern portion of the monument.

“Establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument honors our solemn promise to tribal nations to respect sovereignty, preserves America’s iconic landscapes for future generations, and advances my commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of our nation’s land and waters by 2030,” Biden said in an announcement.

New national monument earns accolades from tribes, environmental advocates

Tribal leaders celebrated the announcement.

“Designating areas like Red Butte as a national monument will help protect them from contamination, destruction, exploitation, and the other harmful effects of mining,” said Havasupai Tribe Chairman Thomas Siyuja Sr. “The threat of contaminating our water is real and current.&nbsp; The pure water that flows through Supai Village is under constant attack by uranium mining.&nbsp; We know the threat is real, but with these protections, our suffering from the harmful effects of mining is lessened.”

The Hopi Tribe said it was committed to safeguarding the land for future generations: “Life continues here at Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. Hopi would like to recognize all those in support of protecting itah tutskwa (ancestral land) and preserving sacred places. Hisat Sinom (ancestors) have left us connected to songs, dances, and ceremonies since time immemorial.”

Environmental advocates also praised Biden.

“National monuments protect the landscapes and ecosystems that make up this country, but they also preserve the stories, sites, and practices that tell us who we are. For the 12 tribes who have called the Greater Grand Canyon area home for centuries, it is the center of the universe,” said Chris Hill, the Sierra Club’s chief conservation officer. “Today, we celebrate President Biden’s protection of this treasured place, and we urge him to continue to build his monumental legacy by protecting more of the lands and waters that we hold so dear.”

“With this historic designation, President Biden is permanently safeguarding the magnificent rimlands that flank the Grand Canyon, their rich biodiversity, and life-giving springs and aquifers,” said Taylor McKinnon, southwest director at the Center for Biological Diversity.

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukvenis marks the fifth national monument created under Biden’s administration. Mallory said it will conserve nearly one million acres of the greater Grand Canyon landscape sacred to tribal nations and Indigenous peoples.

“From Day One, I have taken action on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history, and my administration will continue to deliver on these unprecedented goals,” Biden said.

The new monument protects thousands of cultural and sacred sites precious to tribal nations in the Southwest, the White House stated. The tribal nations include the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland commended the monument’s creation, saying it builds upon the decades of tribal and community-led efforts to protect these landscapes’ historic and scientific resources.

“The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument protects and preserves the rich cultural, ecological, scientific, historic, and scenic value of the greater Grand Canyon landscape,” Haaland said.

The monument designation protects the tribes’ sacred places for cultural and spiritual uses, Haaland said, and it also respects the existing livestock grazing permits and preserves access for hunting and fishing.

The new monument spans 917,618 acres of public lands managed by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.

“The national monument designation recognizes and respects valid existing rights,” Haaland said. The proclamation outlines that maintenance and upgrades to water infrastructure will continue, and utility lines, pipelines, and roads will be maintained.

“Existing mining claims — predating a 20-year mineral withdraw initiated in 2012 — will remain in place,” Haaland said, and the two approved mining operations within the monument’s boundaries could operate.

“The national monument only includes federal lands and does not include state and private lands within the boundary or affect the property rights of the state or private land owners,” she added.

The monument will comprise three distinct areas south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park.

“It is bordered by the Kanab watershed boundary and Kanab Creek drainage in the northwestern area and the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Navajo Nation in the southern area, and stretches from Marble Canyon to the edge of the Kaibab Plateau in the northeastern area,” Haaland said.

The designation is a step toward addressing the history of dispossession and exclusion of tribal nations and Indigenous peoples in the area, Haaland said, noting how tribes were left out when the federal government established the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893, Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908 and Grand Canyon National Park in 1919.

Haaland said that the proclamation establishes the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon Commission, which will work to advance the objective of the co-stewardship of the monument.

The creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni national monument has been met with much support,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2023/07/20/too-important-not-to-protect-national-monument-proposed-at-grand-canyon/">especially during a public meeting held by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service</a>&nbsp;in Flagstaff on July 18.

The meeting allowed the community to comment on managing the region’s public lands, including a proposal to designate existing public lands as a national monument.

Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema voiced their support initially and even introduced&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2262?s=1&amp;r=3">The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Act</a>. Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, shared the same support and introduced&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4580?s=1&amp;r=3">an identical bill in the U.S. House of Representatives</a>.

The bill sought to establish 1,069,970 acres of federal lands currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona as a new Grand Canyon National Monument.

The legislation sets standards for the monument, including forming a tribal commission composed of one representative from each of the 12 federally recognized members of the Grand Canyon Associated Tribes to help oversee the development.

The monument has been met with some opposition, with several officials from Mohave County stating that it’s a land grab attempt from the Biden administration.

Republicans discount Indigenous culture, bemoan end of mining prospects

Republican House and Senate majority leaders hosted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRHJQd3BRWw">an emergency special meeting in Kingman on Monday</a>, the night before Biden’s designation, to hear testimony from local officials and concerned community members.

“The federal government already controls too much of our land,” Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said in a press release. “The President should not be allowed to take away our land and economic opportunities without the consent of the legislature.”

During the special meeting, a majority of the public comments raised concerns about access to public lands, concerns about cutting off&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2019/09/17/nuclear-industry-urges-trump-grand-canyon-uranium-mining-public-lands/">proposed uranium mining</a>, and government control of land and water, among other topics.

During the public meeting, Travis Lingenfelter, chairman of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, discussed how the advocating efforts for this monument have been claiming cultural sites to justify its creation.

Lingenfelter said that 445,000 acres of the national monument are within Mohave County, and that area is mostly range land. He said non-Indigenous county residents take exception to the claim that all of the land is “one big cultural site.”

Lingenfelter said that Mohave County is willing to work to identify and protect specific cultural sites, but “we don’t believe the whole thing is a big cultural site.”

He also lamented that the proposed monument would permanently protect the land from uranium mining and contamination, which he said is unnecessary because&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2020/12/24/biden-firm-on-uranium-mining-ban-around-jewel-of-the-grand-canyon/">a temporary 20-year mining moratorium</a>&nbsp;already protects it.

“We’re already under a moratorium on uranium exploration in this area, which has been identified as some of the richest deposits in our whole country for uranium,” Lingenfelter said.

He complained that officials like Grijalva have pushed national monument creations by making “heart-jerking statements” on the legacy of uranium contamination of the water.

The Arizona incidents they point to, Lingenfelter said, occurred in Coconino County near the Navajo Nation in the 1940s and 1950s, when “some uranium mines that were not mitigated properly (and) the EPA had to get involved.”

“That was in the ’40s and ’50s. It is not 2023,” Lingenfelter said. “Yet, they are citing water scares.”

From 1944 to 1986, nearly 30 million tons of uranium ore were extracted from Navajo lands under leases the federal government made with the Navajo Nation. Navajo people often worked in the mines. Some Navajo workers would live and raise their families close to the mines and mills.

“Today the mines are closed, but a legacy of uranium contamination remains, including over 500 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) as well as homes and water sources with elevated levels of radiation,” the EPA stated on its website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691692553063.jpeg" alt="The public voiced their concerns and support during a public meeting held by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in Flagstaff on July 18. The public meeting was to hear comments on the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. (Courtesy of Shondiin Silversmith/Arizona Mirror)" />
 <figcaption>The public voiced their concerns and support during a public meeting held by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in Flagstaff on July 18. The public meeting was to hear comments on the proposed Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. (Courtesy of Shondiin Silversmith/Arizona Mirror)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Shondiin SilversmithAfter months of advocating from several tribal nations, Arizona is home to a new national monument, as President Joe Biden this week officially designated Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, effectively barring mining on roughly a million acres of land near Grand Canyon National Park.“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to honoring and respecting Tribal sovereignty, protecting Tribal homelands, and incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and robust Tribal consultation into planning and decision-making,” White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory said.The Grand Canyon is the ancestral homeland of multiple tribal nations across the Southwest, and tribes still rely on the canyon for natural and cultural resources that are significant and sacred to their communities.“Today’s designation supports tribally-led conservation efforts and helps address injustices of the past, including when tribes were forcibly removed from lands that later became Grand Canyon National Park,” Mallory said.In April,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2023/04/12/tribal-leaders-support-push-for-creation-of-grand-canyon-national-monument/">tribal leaders, alongside state and federal officials, launched an effort to sustain the natural resources of the Grand Canyon</a>&nbsp;by calling on Biden to designate land surrounding the Grand Canyon National Park a national monument by using his authority under the Antiquities Act of 1906.Their efforts have succeeded, as the White House announced Tuesday that Biden designated the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The name is a mixture of the traditional Havasupai and Hopi languages. Baaj Nwaavjo means “where tribes roam” for the Havasupai Tribe, and I’tah Kukveni means “our footprints” for the Hopi Tribe.On Tuesday evening, the president was to sign the proclamation in Arizona at Red Butte, a sacred site known as Wii’i Gdwiisa by the Havasupai Tribe, which towers above the southern portion of the monument.“Establishing the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument honors our solemn promise to tribal nations to respect sovereignty, preserves America’s iconic landscapes for future generations, and advances my commitment to protect and conserve at least 30% of our nation’s land and waters by 2030,” Biden said in an announcement.<h2>New national monument earns accolades from tribes, environmental advocates</h2>Tribal leaders celebrated the announcement.“Designating areas like Red Butte as a national monument will help protect them from contamination, destruction, exploitation, and the other harmful effects of mining,” said Havasupai Tribe Chairman Thomas Siyuja Sr. “The threat of contaminating our water is real and current.&nbsp; The pure water that flows through Supai Village is under constant attack by uranium mining.&nbsp; We know the threat is real, but with these protections, our suffering from the harmful effects of mining is lessened.”The Hopi Tribe said it was committed to safeguarding the land for future generations: “Life continues here at Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni. Hopi would like to recognize all those in support of protecting itah tutskwa (ancestral land) and preserving sacred places. Hisat Sinom (ancestors) have left us connected to songs, dances, and ceremonies since time immemorial.”Environmental advocates also praised Biden.“National monuments protect the landscapes and ecosystems that make up this country, but they also preserve the stories, sites, and practices that tell us who we are. For the 12 tribes who have called the Greater Grand Canyon area home for centuries, it is the center of the universe,” said Chris Hill, the Sierra Club’s chief conservation officer. “Today, we celebrate President Biden’s protection of this treasured place, and we urge him to continue to build his monumental legacy by protecting more of the lands and waters that we hold so dear.”“With this historic designation, President Biden is permanently safeguarding the magnificent rimlands that flank the Grand Canyon, their rich biodiversity, and life-giving springs and aquifers,” said Taylor McKinnon, southwest director at the Center for Biological Diversity.Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukvenis marks the fifth national monument created under Biden’s administration. Mallory said it will conserve nearly one million acres of the greater Grand Canyon landscape sacred to tribal nations and Indigenous peoples.“From Day One, I have taken action on the most ambitious climate and conservation agenda in our country’s history, and my administration will continue to deliver on these unprecedented goals,” Biden said.The new monument protects thousands of cultural and sacred sites precious to tribal nations in the Southwest, the White House stated. The tribal nations include the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes.Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland commended the monument’s creation, saying it builds upon the decades of tribal and community-led efforts to protect these landscapes’ historic and scientific resources.“The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument protects and preserves the rich cultural, ecological, scientific, historic, and scenic value of the greater Grand Canyon landscape,” Haaland said.The monument designation protects the tribes’ sacred places for cultural and spiritual uses, Haaland said, and it also respects the existing livestock grazing permits and preserves access for hunting and fishing.<h2>No new mining</h2>The new monument spans 917,618 acres of public lands managed by the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management and the Department of Agriculture’s U.S. Forest Service.“The national monument designation recognizes and respects valid existing rights,” Haaland said. The proclamation outlines that maintenance and upgrades to water infrastructure will continue, and utility lines, pipelines, and roads will be maintained.“Existing mining claims — predating a 20-year mineral withdraw initiated in 2012 — will remain in place,” Haaland said, and the two approved mining operations within the monument’s boundaries could operate.“The national monument only includes federal lands and does not include state and private lands within the boundary or affect the property rights of the state or private land owners,” she added.The monument will comprise three distinct areas south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park.“It is bordered by the Kanab watershed boundary and Kanab Creek drainage in the northwestern area and the Havasupai Indian Reservation and Navajo Nation in the southern area, and stretches from Marble Canyon to the edge of the Kaibab Plateau in the northeastern area,” Haaland said.The designation is a step toward addressing the history of dispossession and exclusion of tribal nations and Indigenous peoples in the area, Haaland said, noting how tribes were left out when the federal government established the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve in 1893, Grand Canyon National Monument in 1908 and Grand Canyon National Park in 1919.Haaland said that the proclamation establishes the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon Commission, which will work to advance the objective of the co-stewardship of the monument.The creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni national monument has been met with much support,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2023/07/20/too-important-not-to-protect-national-monument-proposed-at-grand-canyon/">especially during a public meeting held by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service</a>&nbsp;in Flagstaff on July 18.The meeting allowed the community to comment on managing the region’s public lands, including a proposal to designate existing public lands as a national monument.Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema voiced their support initially and even introduced&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/2262?s=1&amp;r=3">The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument Act</a>. Reps. Raúl Grijalva and Ruben Gallego, both Democrats, shared the same support and introduced&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4580?s=1&amp;r=3">an identical bill in the U.S. House of Representatives</a>.The bill sought to establish 1,069,970 acres of federal lands currently managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service in Arizona as a new Grand Canyon National Monument.The legislation sets standards for the monument, including forming a tribal commission composed of one representative from each of the 12 federally recognized members of the Grand Canyon Associated Tribes to help oversee the development.The monument has been met with some opposition, with several officials from Mohave County stating that it’s a land grab attempt from the Biden administration.<h2>Republicans discount Indigenous culture, bemoan end of mining prospects</h2>Republican House and Senate majority leaders hosted&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRHJQd3BRWw">an emergency special meeting in Kingman on Monday</a>, the night before Biden’s designation, to hear testimony from local officials and concerned community members.“The federal government already controls too much of our land,” Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli said in a press release. “The President should not be allowed to take away our land and economic opportunities without the consent of the legislature.”During the special meeting, a majority of the public comments raised concerns about access to public lands, concerns about cutting off&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2019/09/17/nuclear-industry-urges-trump-grand-canyon-uranium-mining-public-lands/">proposed uranium mining</a>, and government control of land and water, among other topics.During the public meeting, Travis Lingenfelter, chairman of the Mohave County Board of Supervisors, discussed how the advocating efforts for this monument have been claiming cultural sites to justify its creation.Lingenfelter said that 445,000 acres of the national monument are within Mohave County, and that area is mostly range land. He said non-Indigenous county residents take exception to the claim that all of the land is “one big cultural site.”Lingenfelter said that Mohave County is willing to work to identify and protect specific cultural sites, but “we don’t believe the whole thing is a big cultural site.”He also lamented that the proposed monument would permanently protect the land from uranium mining and contamination, which he said is unnecessary because&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.azmirror.com/2020/12/24/biden-firm-on-uranium-mining-ban-around-jewel-of-the-grand-canyon/">a temporary 20-year mining moratorium</a>&nbsp;already protects it.“We’re already under a moratorium on uranium exploration in this area, which has been identified as some of the richest deposits in our whole country for uranium,” Lingenfelter said.He complained that officials like Grijalva have pushed national monument creations by making “heart-jerking statements” on the legacy of uranium contamination of the water.The Arizona incidents they point to, Lingenfelter said, occurred in Coconino County near the Navajo Nation in the 1940s and 1950s, when “some uranium mines that were not mitigated properly (and) the EPA had to get involved.”“That was in the ’40s and ’50s. It is not 2023,” Lingenfelter said. “Yet, they are citing water scares.”From 1944 to 1986, nearly 30 million tons of uranium ore were extracted from Navajo lands under leases the federal government made with the Navajo Nation. Navajo people often worked in the mines. Some Navajo workers would live and raise their families close to the mines and mills.“Today the mines are closed, but a legacy of uranium contamination remains, including over 500 abandoned uranium mines (AUMs) as well as homes and water sources with elevated levels of radiation,” the EPA stated on its website.

Arizona gets a new national monument as Biden designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thursday, VA announced that Veterans and survivors who apply (or submit their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/" target="_blank">intent to file</a>) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, August 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"The easiest way for folks to sign up for PACT Act benefits is to go to <a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction">VA.gov</a>, and click on a button there to apply for a disability claim," said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes. "What that does is, even if you don't have all the necessary documents, you're filing an Intent to File and it holds your place in line and you, too, will be eligible for those backdated benefits."&nbsp;

VA has made this decision out of an abundance of caution after experiencing technical difficulties with <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/">VA.gov/PACT</a> in recent days. Specifically, due to extremely high demand, some Veterans who have sought to submit their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/" target="_blank">intent to file</a>&nbsp;for PACT Act benefits have received error messages while doing so.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Despite these messages, VA has successfully logged every one of these <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/">intents to file</a> – meaning that every Veteran or survivor who has received an error message while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete. VA is working on contacting these Veterans to clarify their status.

"It takes maybe five or ten minutes for you to actually do it," Hayes said. "We're routing folks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction">VA.gov</a>&nbsp;to apply today."

You do not have to have all of your paperwork in order to submit an <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/">Intent to File</a>. It is important to do so in order to get access to the backdated benefits for the past year.

Jeff Herndon at the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita also contributed to this story.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1651018039114.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thursday, VA announced that Veterans and survivors who apply (or submit their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/" target="_blank">intent to file</a>) for PACT Act benefits by 11:59 p.m. Eastern on Monday, August 14, 2023 will be eligible to have their benefits backdated to August 10, 2022 – the day that President Biden signed the PACT Act into law.&nbsp;&nbsp;"The easiest way for folks to sign up for PACT Act benefits is to go to <a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction">VA.gov</a>, and click on a button there to apply for a disability claim," said VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes. "What that does is, even if you don't have all the necessary documents, you're filing an Intent to File and it holds your place in line and you, too, will be eligible for those backdated benefits."&nbsp; VA has made this decision out of an abundance of caution after experiencing technical difficulties with <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/the-pact-act-and-your-va-benefits/">VA.gov/PACT</a> in recent days. Specifically, due to extremely high demand, some Veterans who have sought to submit their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/" target="_blank">intent to file</a>&nbsp;for PACT Act benefits have received error messages while doing so.&nbsp;&nbsp;Despite these messages, VA has successfully logged every one of these <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/">intents to file</a> – meaning that every Veteran or survivor who has received an error message while applying for PACT Act benefits can consider their intent to file complete. VA is working on contacting these Veterans to clarify their status."It takes maybe five or ten minutes for you to actually do it," Hayes said. "We're routing folks to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.va.gov/disability/file-disability-claim-form-21-526ez/introduction">VA.gov</a>&nbsp;to apply today."You do not have to have all of your paperwork in order to submit an <a href="https://www.va.gov/resources/your-intent-to-file-a-va-claim/">Intent to File</a>. It is important to do so in order to get access to the backdated benefits for the past year.Jeff Herndon at the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita also contributed to this story.

PACT Act backdated deadline extended to Monday

AUGUST 10, 2023 (HASTINGS, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash that claimed two lives and injured three others Wednesday afternoon in&nbsp;Clay County.

The crash occurred at approximately&nbsp;4:15 p.m.&nbsp;Wednesday&nbsp;on Highway 6 near the Adams/Clay County line. Preliminary investigation shows that a semi was westbound on Highway 6 when it failed to slow down for stopped westbound traffic that was waiting for a vehicle to turn at Road A. The semi then entered the eastbound lanes, lost control, and struck an eastbound Buick Enclave. The Buick was occupied by one adult and four children.&nbsp;

The driver, identified as Nicole Pavelka, 30, and one of the children, Ryker Schlichtman, 8, were pronounced deceased at the scene. An 11-year-old and a 10-year-old have been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha with serious injuries. The fourth child, a 9-year-old, was transported to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings also with serious injuries.&nbsp;All five are a family from Davenport, Nebraska.&nbsp;

The driver of the semi, Justin Zoerb, 21, of Hazard, Nebraska, was found to have an active arrest warrant out of Hitchcock County. He was arrested and has been lodged in Adams County Jail. NSP is conducting a full crash reconstruction. The crash remains under investigation.&nbsp;

NSP was assisted on scene by the Adams County and Clay County Sheriff’s Offices, the Adams and Clay County Attorney’s Offices, Hastings, Trumbull, Glenvil, and Adams County Rural Fire Departments, LoneTree Towing, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Cody Thomas - Nebraska State PatrolAUGUST 10, 2023 (HASTINGS, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;—&nbsp;The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating a two-vehicle crash that claimed two lives and injured three others Wednesday afternoon in&nbsp;Clay County.The crash occurred at approximately&nbsp;4:15 p.m.&nbsp;Wednesday&nbsp;on Highway 6 near the Adams/Clay County line. Preliminary investigation shows that a semi was westbound on Highway 6 when it failed to slow down for stopped westbound traffic that was waiting for a vehicle to turn at Road A. The semi then entered the eastbound lanes, lost control, and struck an eastbound Buick Enclave. The Buick was occupied by one adult and four children.&nbsp;The driver, identified as Nicole Pavelka, 30, and one of the children, Ryker Schlichtman, 8, were pronounced deceased at the scene. An 11-year-old and a 10-year-old have been transported to Children’s Hospital in Omaha with serious injuries. The fourth child, a 9-year-old, was transported to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings also with serious injuries.&nbsp;All five are a family from Davenport, Nebraska.&nbsp;The driver of the semi, Justin Zoerb, 21, of Hazard, Nebraska, was found to have an active arrest warrant out of Hitchcock County. He was arrested and has been lodged in Adams County Jail. NSP is conducting a full crash reconstruction. The crash remains under investigation.&nbsp;NSP was assisted on scene by the Adams County and Clay County Sheriff’s Offices, the Adams and Clay County Attorney’s Offices, Hastings, Trumbull, Glenvil, and Adams County Rural Fire Departments, LoneTree Towing, and the Nebraska Department of Transportation.

Two Killed, One Arrested After Crash in Clay County

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Biden administration attorneys were set to ask appellate court judges in New Orleans on Thursday to block a Louisiana-based federal judge's broad order limiting executive branch officials and agencies' communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Monroe issued the order last month in a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, who will be asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals to uphold the order. Plaintiffs also include a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.

Critics of the ruling say it could hamper attempts to squelch misinformation on topics such as public health and elections. Supporters of the order say it keeps the government from illegally censoring points of view.

The 5th Circuit granted a temporary pause on enforcement of the order on July 14, giving both sides time to file briefs and prepare for Thursday's hearing. A panel of three judges was scheduled to hear arguments: Edith Brown Clement and Jennifer Walker Elrod, nominated to the court by former President George W. Bush; and Don Willett, nominated by former President Donald Trump.

Filed last year, the lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by discussing possible regulatory action the government could take while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit.

Doughty, nominated to the federal bench by Trump, issued an Independence Day order and accompanying reasons that covered more than 160 pages. He said the plaintiffs were likely to win the lawsuit. His injunction blocked the Health and Human Services Department, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”

Administration lawyers said the order was overly broad and vague, raising questions about what officials can say in conversations with social media companies or in public statements. They said Doughty’s order posed a threat of “grave” public harm by chilling executive branch efforts to combat online misinformation. And they said there has been no evidence of threats by the administration.

“The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content," the administration said. “Indeed, the order denying the stay — presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence — referred to ‘a series of public media statements.'"

In response, the attorneys general say in briefs that the order ended an “egregious campaign” by the administration that “fundamentally distorted online discourse in America on great social and political questions.”

The White House has said publicly it disagrees with the ruling but has said little about how and whether it has affected communication with social media companies so far.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667963892129.png" alt="Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Republican U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt was the Missouri attorney general when the lawsuit was filed-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Biden administration attorneys were set to ask appellate court judges in New Orleans on Thursday to block a Louisiana-based federal judge's broad order limiting executive branch officials and agencies' communications with social media companies about controversial online posts.U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty of Monroe issued the order last month in a lawsuit brought by Republican attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, who will be asking the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of appeals to uphold the order. Plaintiffs also include a conservative website owner and four individual critics of government COVID-19 policies.Critics of the ruling say it could hamper attempts to squelch misinformation on topics such as public health and elections. Supporters of the order say it keeps the government from illegally censoring points of view.The 5th Circuit granted a temporary pause on enforcement of the order on July 14, giving both sides time to file briefs and prepare for Thursday's hearing. A panel of three judges was scheduled to hear arguments: Edith Brown Clement and Jennifer Walker Elrod, nominated to the court by former President George W. Bush; and Don Willett, nominated by former President Donald Trump.Filed last year, the lawsuit claimed the administration, in effect, censored free speech by discussing possible regulatory action the government could take while pressuring companies to remove what it deemed misinformation. COVID-19 vaccines, legal issues involving President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter, and election fraud allegations were among the topics spotlighted in the lawsuit.Doughty, nominated to the federal bench by Trump, issued an Independence Day order and accompanying reasons that covered more than 160 pages. He said the plaintiffs were likely to win the lawsuit. His injunction blocked the Health and Human Services Department, the FBI and multiple other government agencies and administration officials from “encouraging, pressuring, or inducing in any manner the removal, deletion, suppression, or reduction of content containing protected free speech.”Administration lawyers said the order was overly broad and vague, raising questions about what officials can say in conversations with social media companies or in public statements. They said Doughty’s order posed a threat of “grave” public harm by chilling executive branch efforts to combat online misinformation. And they said there has been no evidence of threats by the administration.“The district court identified no evidence suggesting that a threat accompanied any request for the removal of content," the administration said. “Indeed, the order denying the stay — presumably highlighting the ostensibly strongest evidence — referred to ‘a series of public media statements.'"In response, the attorneys general say in briefs that the order ended an “egregious campaign” by the administration that “fundamentally distorted online discourse in America on great social and political questions.”The White House has said publicly it disagrees with the ruling but has said little about how and whether it has affected communication with social media companies so far.

Biden admin. continues court fight on interference in social media content

KEARNEY — On a recent trip with his state trooper drivers, Gov. Jim Pillen said he watched as a vehicle ahead swerved in and out of its lane, then veered into the ditch and back onto the roadway.

So when asked Wednesday if he’d support a tougher ban on cell phone use while driving, the first-term governor said that it needs to be looked at.

“I think we do have a problem,” Pillen said at a press conference in Kearney. “I think we have to have some serious conversations.”

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, currently ban use of hand-held cell phones while driving.

Forty-eight states, the NCSL says, have banned text messaging while driving.

Nebraska has a ban on using a hand-held cell phone to read, write or text while driving, but it is one of only three states that makes texting while driving a secondary offense. That means that a motorist would have to be stopped for another offense to get a ticket for texting.

In nearby Iowa, for instance, a distracted driver law allows for a driver to be pulled over for using a hand-held cell phone.

Tougher distracted driving bills have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature, but have failed to pass.

According to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/Distracted%20Driving.pdf">Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,</a>&nbsp;there were 19 fatalities, 1,495 injuries and 3,060 property damage only crashes related to distracted driving in the state in 2019.

Nationally, 2,841 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2018, the DHHS said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691680806458.jpeg" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen held a press conference Wednesday in Kearney during the governor’s annual ag and economic development summit. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen held a press conference Wednesday in Kearney during the governor’s annual ag and economic development summit. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure> KEARNEY — On a recent trip with his state trooper drivers, Gov. Jim Pillen said he watched as a vehicle ahead swerved in and out of its lane, then veered into the ditch and back onto the roadway.So when asked Wednesday if he’d support a tougher ban on cell phone use while driving, the first-term governor said that it needs to be looked at.“I think we do have a problem,” Pillen said at a press conference in Kearney. “I think we have to have some serious conversations.”According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 28 states, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, currently ban use of hand-held cell phones while driving.Forty-eight states, the NCSL says, have banned text messaging while driving.Nebraska has a ban on using a hand-held cell phone to read, write or text while driving, but it is one of only three states that makes texting while driving a secondary offense. That means that a motorist would have to be stopped for another offense to get a ticket for texting.In nearby Iowa, for instance, a distracted driver law allows for a driver to be pulled over for using a hand-held cell phone.Tougher distracted driving bills have been introduced in the Nebraska Legislature, but have failed to pass.According to the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/Documents/Distracted%20Driving.pdf">Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services,</a>&nbsp;there were 19 fatalities, 1,495 injuries and 3,060 property damage only crashes related to distracted driving in the state in 2019.Nationally, 2,841 people were killed in distracted driving crashes in 2018, the DHHS said.

Pillen says ‘we need a serious conversation’ about cell phone use and distracted driving

RENO, Nev. (AP) — Over the objections of wild horse advocates, a judge cleared the way Wednesday night for the U.S. government to continue capturing thousands of mustangs in Nevada despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roundup-deaths-nevada-lawsuit-wild-horses-f9f68332087c5ddb7e037ffa5c602d9d">deaths of 31 horses</a>&nbsp;during the weekslong roundup.

In a ruling from the bench after a seven-hour hearing in Reno, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks said he was denying Wild Horse Education's bid for an emergency order to halt the roundup the nonprofit advocacy group argues is inhumane and illegal.

“The fact is, I don't have evidence that would support the granting of a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order,” Hicks said.

The judge said the deaths of the horses were tragic. But he said that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management appears to be complying with the law and doing everything it can to gather the mustangs as humanely as possible from the range to cull overpopulated herds.

“These tragedies are going to occur when you have gathers, so I cannot find there are inhumane treatments with these incidents,” Hicks said.

“The stallions, mares, foals — they are beautiful animals but at they same time they are wild animals. There are going to be some that are lost,” he said.

Of little consolation to horse advocates, Hicks said he agreed with their claim that the federal agency illegally denied them access to observe one of the mustang traps because it required passing through private land owned by a man who didn't want the public there.

But the judge said bureau officials assured him the roundup in that particular area was complete and a similar situation wouldn't occur again.

“I'm of the view that was a constitutional violation," Hicks said. "But I'm also of the opinion that is moot. ... It's behind us.”

Government lawyers representing the Bureau of Land Management said the deaths among 2,500 horses gathered since July 9 were unfortunate but expected. They said the free-roaming animals pose a threat to the ecological health of public rangeland.

Horse advocates argued the deaths were unnecessary, resulting from inhumane tactics being used to expedite removals from public lands where pregnant mares and young foals were being chased in summer heat across rocky high desert into makeshift corrals.

The roundup halfway between Reno and Salt Lake City is scheduled to continue through Aug. 22.

Laura Leigh, founder of the Nevada-based Wild Horse Education, said Wednesday night that she was “extremely disappointed” in the ruling.

“We are discussing with our attorney our options on how to proceed with the underlying complaint to address the lack of enforceable humane standards,” she said in an email to The Associated Press.

“Although the Judge said that our Constitutional Rights to view one of the traps was likely violated, he did not see any necessity to restrain BLM from doing it again," Leigh said. “He trusted that BLM's statement that there would be no further trapping on private property with access denial.”

Government lawyers said in earlier court filings the horse advocates have been trying to inflame emotions with photos and videos of injured mustangs trying to flee helicopters and wranglers on horseback. One with a broken leg&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mustangs-roundup-deaths-nevada-federal-land-44dddb497721fe5e65542a2ca2b3eccf">was chased for 35 minutes</a>&nbsp;before it was euthanized.

“Deaths are tragic, but they are a known and anticipated part of wild horse gathers that must be weighed against the harm the same horses face under drought and overpopulation conditions if the gather cannot be completed,” Justice Department lawyers wrote.

The agency says the 31 deaths are within the average mortality rate of 1% to 1.2% for wild horse gathers conducted from 2010 to 19.

“Despite plaintiffs’ sensational allegations, there is nothing out of the ordinary ... and nothing to suggest the conditions of these gathers have been unusually dangerous to the horses,” government lawyers said.

Horse advocates said the mustangs have been made scapegoats for damage most often caused by taxpayer-subsidized cattle grazing the same limited forage on the high-desert range at much higher numbers.

Among other things, they said in a lawsuit filed July 26, the roundup is illegally based on an outdated environmental review that fails to reflect current conditions on the range. They said it also ignores evidence the herds are still in the midst of foaling season when the use of helicopters is largely prohibited.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada is pushing legislation in Congress to outlaw the use of helicopters altogether.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691672142205.jpeg" alt="A livestock helicopter pilot rounds up wild horses from the Fox &amp; Lake Herd Management Area on July 13, 2008, in Washoe County, Nev., near the town on Empire, Nev. A legal battle over the U.S. government's ongoing capture of thousands of wild horses in Nevada, where over two dozen mustangs have died in a weeks-long roundup goes before a judge Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, as opponents try to prove it's illegal and should be stopped. (AP Photo/Brad Horn, File)" />
 <figcaption>A livestock helicopter pilot rounds up wild horses from the Fox &amp; Lake Herd Management Area on July 13, 2008, in Washoe County, Nev., near the town on Empire, Nev. A legal battle over the U.S. government's ongoing capture of thousands of wild horses in Nevada, where over two dozen mustangs have died in a weeks-long roundup goes before a judge Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, as opponents try to prove it's illegal and should be stopped. (AP Photo/Brad Horn, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO, Nev. (AP) — Over the objections of wild horse advocates, a judge cleared the way Wednesday night for the U.S. government to continue capturing thousands of mustangs in Nevada despite the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/roundup-deaths-nevada-lawsuit-wild-horses-f9f68332087c5ddb7e037ffa5c602d9d">deaths of 31 horses</a>&nbsp;during the weekslong roundup.In a ruling from the bench after a seven-hour hearing in Reno, U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks said he was denying Wild Horse Education's bid for an emergency order to halt the roundup the nonprofit advocacy group argues is inhumane and illegal.“The fact is, I don't have evidence that would support the granting of a preliminary injunction or temporary restraining order,” Hicks said.The judge said the deaths of the horses were tragic. But he said that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management appears to be complying with the law and doing everything it can to gather the mustangs as humanely as possible from the range to cull overpopulated herds.“These tragedies are going to occur when you have gathers, so I cannot find there are inhumane treatments with these incidents,” Hicks said.“The stallions, mares, foals — they are beautiful animals but at they same time they are wild animals. There are going to be some that are lost,” he said.Of little consolation to horse advocates, Hicks said he agreed with their claim that the federal agency illegally denied them access to observe one of the mustang traps because it required passing through private land owned by a man who didn't want the public there.But the judge said bureau officials assured him the roundup in that particular area was complete and a similar situation wouldn't occur again.“I'm of the view that was a constitutional violation," Hicks said. "But I'm also of the opinion that is moot. ... It's behind us.”Government lawyers representing the Bureau of Land Management said the deaths among 2,500 horses gathered since July 9 were unfortunate but expected. They said the free-roaming animals pose a threat to the ecological health of public rangeland.Horse advocates argued the deaths were unnecessary, resulting from inhumane tactics being used to expedite removals from public lands where pregnant mares and young foals were being chased in summer heat across rocky high desert into makeshift corrals.The roundup halfway between Reno and Salt Lake City is scheduled to continue through Aug. 22.Laura Leigh, founder of the Nevada-based Wild Horse Education, said Wednesday night that she was “extremely disappointed” in the ruling.“We are discussing with our attorney our options on how to proceed with the underlying complaint to address the lack of enforceable humane standards,” she said in an email to The Associated Press.“Although the Judge said that our Constitutional Rights to view one of the traps was likely violated, he did not see any necessity to restrain BLM from doing it again," Leigh said. “He trusted that BLM's statement that there would be no further trapping on private property with access denial.”Government lawyers said in earlier court filings the horse advocates have been trying to inflame emotions with photos and videos of injured mustangs trying to flee helicopters and wranglers on horseback. One with a broken leg&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/mustangs-roundup-deaths-nevada-federal-land-44dddb497721fe5e65542a2ca2b3eccf">was chased for 35 minutes</a>&nbsp;before it was euthanized.“Deaths are tragic, but they are a known and anticipated part of wild horse gathers that must be weighed against the harm the same horses face under drought and overpopulation conditions if the gather cannot be completed,” Justice Department lawyers wrote.The agency says the 31 deaths are within the average mortality rate of 1% to 1.2% for wild horse gathers conducted from 2010 to 19.“Despite plaintiffs’ sensational allegations, there is nothing out of the ordinary ... and nothing to suggest the conditions of these gathers have been unusually dangerous to the horses,” government lawyers said.Horse advocates said the mustangs have been made scapegoats for damage most often caused by taxpayer-subsidized cattle grazing the same limited forage on the high-desert range at much higher numbers.Among other things, they said in a lawsuit filed July 26, the roundup is illegally based on an outdated environmental review that fails to reflect current conditions on the range. They said it also ignores evidence the herds are still in the midst of foaling season when the use of helicopters is largely prohibited.Democratic U.S. Rep. Dina Titus of Nevada is pushing legislation in Congress to outlaw the use of helicopters altogether.

US judge clears way for Nevada mustang roundup to continue despite deaths of 31 wild horses

YUMA COUNTY —A supercell EF3 tornado generated winds at 150 mph near the Kansas, Nebraska border in Northeast Colorado just after 6p.m. CDT Tuesday,&nbsp; according to a preliminary storm survey from the National Weather Service in Goodland. 

The tornado with a maximum width of 161 yards moved east-southeast from Hyde, Colorado to Yuma, Colorado and remained just south of the city. 

It damaged two homes, trees, numerous power poles and irrigation pivots.&nbsp; Grain bins and a slanted metal building containing agriculture equipment were also damaged.

The tornado lasted approximately 25 minutes and traveled just over six miles. There were no injuries reported.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691680235608.png" alt="Storm damage photo courtesy KDVR TV" />
 <figcaption>Storm damage photo courtesy KDVR TV</figcaption>
 </figure>YUMA COUNTY —A supercell EF3 tornado generated winds at 150 mph near the Kansas, Nebraska border in Northeast Colorado just after 6p.m. CDT Tuesday,&nbsp; according to a preliminary storm survey from the National Weather Service in Goodland. The tornado with a maximum width of 161 yards moved east-southeast from Hyde, Colorado to Yuma, Colorado and remained just south of the city. It damaged two homes, trees, numerous power poles and irrigation pivots.&nbsp; Grain bins and a slanted metal building containing agriculture equipment were also damaged.The tornado lasted approximately 25 minutes and traveled just over six miles. There were no injuries reported.

NWS: Tornado in northeast Colorado had winds of 150mph

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/09/governor-business-leaders-tout-potential-to-grow-bio-manufacturing-industry-in-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

KEARNEY — Nebraska is ideally situated to become a hub for the growing bio-manufacturing industry, if it can grow its workforce and meet a rising demand for reducing the carbon footprint of products, those attending the Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit were told Wednesday.

Business leaders, along with Gov. Jim Pillen, said that Nebraska provides a dedicated workforce, attractive tax incentives, low-cost utilities, proximity to raw materials like corn and ethanol, and a supportive local governance — where you’re only “a call or two” away from reaching a decision-maker.

&nbsp;“In Ohio, it was hard to get the mayor to return my call,” said Paul Caldwell, site director of Evonik’s facility in Blair, which extracts&nbsp;omega-3 fatty acids from natural marine algae for animal nutrition.

Pillen, during a press conference at the summit, which drew about 500 people, said that Nebraska is the “center of the new bio-economy.”

“We raise the lowest carbon footprint ag products in the country,” he said. “The vision is we grow Nebraska industries so we don’t export a kernel of corn.”

“We have to keep it here and keep the value for our families here,” the governor said.

Currently, Nebraska has about 18,000 jobs related to bio-manufacturing, from scientists to soil testers, according to Rob Owen of Bio Nebraska, a local trade group.&nbsp;

Owen, along with four speakers on a panel about bio-manufacturing, said the industry is growing, and needs to better communicate that it provides great-paying jobs. A report done by Bio Nebraska said that the average bio-sciences jobs in Nebraska was paying nearly $83,000 a year, well above the state average for all jobs of $54,000.

The Cargill campus at Blair, which includes Germany-based Evonik and Danish-owned Novozymes, is the nation’s largest bio-processing campus in the country, according to Owen, employing about 1,000 workers.

But speakers on the panel said that a barrier to growing the industry is a lack of workforce — not just scientists, but shift workers. They said training programs need to be beefed up, and more students need to be told about the opportunities for a high-paying career in their home state.

“We need to educate our kids, train our kids and keep them here,” Pillen said, adding that the lack of workforce is a problem in several industries in Nebraska.

When asked if the state was spending enough on training programs, the governor said the state needs to be fiscally conservative and adopt favorable tax policies that don’t force residents “to run away.”

Billy Hagstrom, co-founder of the Omaha research and development firm, Bluestem Biosciences, said that companies are seeking to “de-carbonize” because consumers desire more sustainable products. He said he and his two other co-founders — who all moved from California — were encouraged by the supportive atmosphere in Nebraska.

Right now, Hagstrom said that there’s a “breathtaking” amount of momentum coming from the Biden Administration related to climate and sustainable products, creating more opportunities for products Bluestem is looking to develop.

Viridis Chemical of Columbus, which opened in December of 2020, uses ethanol from a nearby plant to produce chemicals used in paint, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Rick Cochrane of Viridis said a main selling point for the company is that its carbon footprint is much lower than similar chemicals produced from oil.

Lowering the carbon footprint has risen as a leading priority for companies, he and other speakers said, and may be the No. 1 concern of European firms.

&nbsp;“To get off a barrel of oil, you need to get on to a bushel of corn,” Hagstrom said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691671811821.jpeg" alt=" The sprawling Cargill bio-tech campus near Blair converts corn into several products, including ethanol and sweetener. (Courtesy of Cargill)" />
 <figcaption> The sprawling Cargill bio-tech campus near Blair converts corn into several products, including ethanol and sweetener. (Courtesy of Cargill)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/09/governor-business-leaders-tout-potential-to-grow-bio-manufacturing-industry-in-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>KEARNEY — Nebraska is ideally situated to become a hub for the growing bio-manufacturing industry, if it can grow its workforce and meet a rising demand for reducing the carbon footprint of products, those attending the Governor’s Ag and Economic Development Summit were told Wednesday.Business leaders, along with Gov. Jim Pillen, said that Nebraska provides a dedicated workforce, attractive tax incentives, low-cost utilities, proximity to raw materials like corn and ethanol, and a supportive local governance — where you’re only “a call or two” away from reaching a decision-maker.&nbsp;“In Ohio, it was hard to get the mayor to return my call,” said Paul Caldwell, site director of Evonik’s facility in Blair, which extracts&nbsp;omega-3 fatty acids from natural marine algae for animal nutrition.<h2>‘Center of new bio-economy’</h2>Pillen, during a press conference at the summit, which drew about 500 people, said that Nebraska is the “center of the new bio-economy.”“We raise the lowest carbon footprint ag products in the country,” he said. “The vision is we grow Nebraska industries so we don’t export a kernel of corn.”“We have to keep it here and keep the value for our families here,” the governor said.Currently, Nebraska has about 18,000 jobs related to bio-manufacturing, from scientists to soil testers, according to Rob Owen of Bio Nebraska, a local trade group.&nbsp;Owen, along with four speakers on a panel about bio-manufacturing, said the industry is growing, and needs to better communicate that it provides great-paying jobs. A report done by Bio Nebraska said that the average bio-sciences jobs in Nebraska was paying nearly $83,000 a year, well above the state average for all jobs of $54,000.The Cargill campus at Blair, which includes Germany-based Evonik and Danish-owned Novozymes, is the nation’s largest bio-processing campus in the country, according to Owen, employing about 1,000 workers.<h2>Lack of workers a barrier</h2>But speakers on the panel said that a barrier to growing the industry is a lack of workforce — not just scientists, but shift workers. They said training programs need to be beefed up, and more students need to be told about the opportunities for a high-paying career in their home state.“We need to educate our kids, train our kids and keep them here,” Pillen said, adding that the lack of workforce is a problem in several industries in Nebraska.When asked if the state was spending enough on training programs, the governor said the state needs to be fiscally conservative and adopt favorable tax policies that don’t force residents “to run away.”Billy Hagstrom, co-founder of the Omaha research and development firm, Bluestem Biosciences, said that companies are seeking to “de-carbonize” because consumers desire more sustainable products. He said he and his two other co-founders — who all moved from California — were encouraged by the supportive atmosphere in Nebraska.<h2>‘Breathtaking’ momentum</h2>Right now, Hagstrom said that there’s a “breathtaking” amount of momentum coming from the Biden Administration related to climate and sustainable products, creating more opportunities for products Bluestem is looking to develop.Viridis Chemical of Columbus, which opened in December of 2020, uses ethanol from a nearby plant to produce chemicals used in paint, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.Rick Cochrane of Viridis said a main selling point for the company is that its carbon footprint is much lower than similar chemicals produced from oil.Lowering the carbon footprint has risen as a leading priority for companies, he and other speakers said, and may be the No. 1 concern of European firms.&nbsp;“To get off a barrel of oil, you need to get on to a bushel of corn,” Hagstrom said.

Governor, business leaders tout potential to grow ‘bio-manufacturing’ industry in Nebraska

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Several thousand Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island, killing at least 36 people and burning parts of a centuries-old town.

The fire took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.

<a href="https://www.mauicounty.gov/">Maui county announced</a> the updated death toll on its website late Wednesday, writing that no other details were currently available on the deaths. Officials said earlier that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">271 structures were damaged or destroyed</a>&nbsp;and dozens of people injured.

On Wednesday, Maui crews continued to battle blazes in several places on the island. Authorities urged visitors to stay away.

Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described a harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies Tuesday afternoon. The couple and their 6-year-old son got back to their apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water, and only had time to grab a change of clothes and run as the bushes around them caught fire.

“We barely made it out,” Kawaakoa said at an evacuation shelter on Wednesday, still unsure if anything was left of their apartment.

As the family fled, a senior center across the road erupted in flames. They called 911, but didn't know if the people got out. Fire alarms blared. As they drove away, downed utility poles and fleeing cars slowed their progress.

Kawaakoa, 34, grew up in the apartment building, called Lahaina Surf, where his dad and grandmother also lived. Lahaina Town dates back to the 1700s and has long been a favorite destination for tourists.

“It was so hard to sit there and just watch my town burn to ashes and not be able to do anything," Kawaakoa said. “I was helpless.”

The Hawaiian fires were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">whipped by strong winds</a>&nbsp;from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south. It's the latest in a series of disasters caused by extreme weather around the globe this summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such events.

As winds eased somewhat on Maui, some flights resumed Wednesday, allowing pilots to view the full scope of the devastation. Aerial video from Lahaina showed dozens of homes and businesses razed, including on Front Street, where tourists once gathered to shop and dine. Smoking heaps of rubble lay piled high next to the waterfront, boats in the harbor were scorched, and gray smoke hovered over the leafless skeletons of charred trees.

“It’s horrifying. I’ve flown here 52 years and I’ve never seen anything come close to that,” said Richard Olsten, a helicopter pilot for a tour company. “We had tears in our eyes."

About 14,500 customers in Maui were without power early Wednesday. With cell service and phone lines down in some areas, many people were struggling to check in with friends and family members living near the wildfires. Some were posting messages on social media.

Tiare Lawrence was frantically trying to reach her siblings who live near where a gas station exploded in Lahaina.

“There’s no service, so we can’t get ahold of anyone,” she said from the Maui community of Pukalani.

Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, from the Hawaii State Dept. of Defense, told reporters Wednesday night that officials were working to get communications restored, to distribute water, and possibly adding law enforcement personnel. He said National Guard helicopters had dropped 150,000 gallons of water on the Maui fires.

State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement that a team was working on contingency plans and preparing for the possible loss of the King Kamehameha III elementary school that had been in Lahaina for more than a century.

“The department is striving to maintain regular school schedules to provide a sense of normalcy, but will keep most Maui schools closed for the remainder of this week,” he said.

The Coast Guard said it rescued 14 people who jumped into the water to escape flames and smoke, including two children.

Among those injured were three people with critical burns who were flown to Straub Medical Center’s burn unit on the island of Oahu, officials said. At least 20 patients were taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, officials said, and a firefighter was hospitalized in stable condition after inhaling smoke.

Richard Bissen Jr., the mayor of Maui County, said at a Wednesday morning news conference that he didn't have details on how or where on the island the six deaths occurred. He said officials hadn't yet begun investigating the immediate cause of the fires, but officials did point to the combination of dry conditions, low humidity and high winds.

More than 2,100 people spent Tuesday night in evacuation centers. Another 2,000 travelers sheltered at Kahului Airport after many flights were canceled. Officials were preparing the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to take in thousands of displaced tourists and locals.

Mauro Farinelli, of Lahaina, said the winds had started blowing hard on Tuesday, and then somehow a fire had started up on a hillside.

“It just ripped through everything with amazing speed,” he said, adding it was “like a blowtorch.”

The winds were so strong they blew his garage door off its hinges and trapped his car in the garage, Farinelli said. So a friend drove him, along with his wife Judit and dog Susi, to an evacuation shelter. He had no idea what had happened to their home.

“We’re hoping for the best,” he said, “but we’re pretty sure it’s gone.”

President Joe Biden said he'd ordered all available federal assets to help with the response. He said the Hawaii National Guard had mobilized Chinook helicopters to help with fire suppression as well as search and rescue efforts on Maui.

“Our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses and communities destroyed," Biden said in a statement.

Former President Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, said on social media that it’s tough to see some of the images coming out of a place that is so special to many.

Alan Dickar, who owns a poster gallery and three houses in Lahaina, said most tourists who come to Maui visit Front Street.

“The central two blocks is the economic heart of this island, and I don’t know what’s left," he said.

Dickar took video of flames engulfing the main strip before escaping with three friends and two cats.

“Every significant thing I owned burned down today,” he said. “I’ll be OK. I got out safely.”

Wildfires were also burning on Hawaii’s Big Island, Mayor Mitch Roth said, although there had been no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there. Roth said firefighters had needed to extinguish some roof fires and there were continuing flareups of one fire near the Mauna Kea Resorts.

Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke said the flames had wiped out communities and urged travelers to stay away.

“This is not a safe place to be,” she said.

Luke issued an emergency proclamation on behalf of Gov. Josh Green, who was traveling. Green's office said he'd cut short his trip and was returning Wednesday evening.

Fires in Hawaii are unlike many of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bonny-fire-york-california-nevada-wildfires-mojave-3fe4fc9ea8bb500bb48e7589f16911ad">those burning in the U.S. West</a>. They tend to break out in large grasslands on the dry sides of the islands and are generally much smaller than mainland fires. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-droughts-hawaii-wildfires-ca2f8cbf76abf6affbbee9fce3be69a8">major fire on the Big Island in 2021</a>&nbsp;burned homes and forced thousands to evacuate.

The 2018&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California killed at least 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 homes.

Yasso, who fled her home with boyfriend Kawaakoa, said residents are going to need time to regroup and that people shouldn't plan to visit right now.

“It’s everybody losing their memories of growing up,” she said. “It’s the memories for everybody. We all lost our homes with this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691662929011.png" alt="Image taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui" />
 <figcaption>Image taken from a helicopter shows the vast destruction of Lahaina, a historic town in Hawaii. Courtesy: Vince Carter/Air Maui</figcaption>
 </figure>WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Several thousand Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as the Lahaina fire swept across the island, killing at least 36 people and burning parts of a centuries-old town.The fire took the island of Maui by surprise, leaving behind burned-out cars on once busy streets and smoking piles of rubble where historic buildings had stood. Flames roared throughout the night, forcing adults and children to dive into the ocean for safety.<a href="https://www.mauicounty.gov/">Maui county announced</a> the updated death toll on its website late Wednesday, writing that no other details were currently available on the deaths. Officials said earlier that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfire-maui-dora-winds-ec23c16abfbeb6ba689f1a98263720db">271 structures were damaged or destroyed</a>&nbsp;and dozens of people injured.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Leeward areas of the state will remain under a Red Flag Warning through tonight. Stay updated with our watches, warnings, and advisories at <a href="https://t.co/ZtuCL9tVrL">https://t.co/ZtuCL9tVrL</a>. The wildfires on Maui were captured on satellite imagery as shown here. <a href="https://t.co/ix1MR58DHS">pic.twitter.com/ix1MR58DHS</a>&mdash; NWSHonolulu (@NWSHonolulu) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSHonolulu/status/1689447349800800256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>On Wednesday, Maui crews continued to battle blazes in several places on the island. Authorities urged visitors to stay away.Lahaina residents Kamuela Kawaakoa and Iiulia Yasso described a harrowing escape under smoke-filled skies Tuesday afternoon. The couple and their 6-year-old son got back to their apartment after a quick dash to the supermarket for water, and only had time to grab a change of clothes and run as the bushes around them caught fire.“We barely made it out,” Kawaakoa said at an evacuation shelter on Wednesday, still unsure if anything was left of their apartment.As the family fled, a senior center across the road erupted in flames. They called 911, but didn't know if the people got out. Fire alarms blared. As they drove away, downed utility poles and fleeing cars slowed their progress.Kawaakoa, 34, grew up in the apartment building, called Lahaina Surf, where his dad and grandmother also lived. Lahaina Town dates back to the 1700s and has long been a favorite destination for tourists.“It was so hard to sit there and just watch my town burn to ashes and not be able to do anything," Kawaakoa said. “I was helpless.”The Hawaiian fires were&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/hawaii-wildfires-climate-change-92c0930be7c28ec9ac71392a83c87582">whipped by strong winds</a>&nbsp;from Hurricane Dora passing far to the south. It's the latest in a series of disasters caused by extreme weather around the globe this summer. Experts say climate change is increasing the likelihood of such events.As winds eased somewhat on Maui, some flights resumed Wednesday, allowing pilots to view the full scope of the devastation. Aerial video from Lahaina showed dozens of homes and businesses razed, including on Front Street, where tourists once gathered to shop and dine. Smoking heaps of rubble lay piled high next to the waterfront, boats in the harbor were scorched, and gray smoke hovered over the leafless skeletons of charred trees.“It’s horrifying. I’ve flown here 52 years and I’ve never seen anything come close to that,” said Richard Olsten, a helicopter pilot for a tour company. “We had tears in our eyes."About 14,500 customers in Maui were without power early Wednesday. With cell service and phone lines down in some areas, many people were struggling to check in with friends and family members living near the wildfires. Some were posting messages on social media.Tiare Lawrence was frantically trying to reach her siblings who live near where a gas station exploded in Lahaina.“There’s no service, so we can’t get ahold of anyone,” she said from the Maui community of Pukalani.Maj. Gen. Kenneth Hara, from the Hawaii State Dept. of Defense, told reporters Wednesday night that officials were working to get communications restored, to distribute water, and possibly adding law enforcement personnel. He said National Guard helicopters had dropped 150,000 gallons of water on the Maui fires.State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi said in a statement that a team was working on contingency plans and preparing for the possible loss of the King Kamehameha III elementary school that had been in Lahaina for more than a century.“The department is striving to maintain regular school schedules to provide a sense of normalcy, but will keep most Maui schools closed for the remainder of this week,” he said.The Coast Guard said it rescued 14 people who jumped into the water to escape flames and smoke, including two children.Among those injured were three people with critical burns who were flown to Straub Medical Center’s burn unit on the island of Oahu, officials said. At least 20 patients were taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center, officials said, and a firefighter was hospitalized in stable condition after inhaling smoke.Richard Bissen Jr., the mayor of Maui County, said at a Wednesday morning news conference that he didn't have details on how or where on the island the six deaths occurred. He said officials hadn't yet begun investigating the immediate cause of the fires, but officials did point to the combination of dry conditions, low humidity and high winds.More than 2,100 people spent Tuesday night in evacuation centers. Another 2,000 travelers sheltered at Kahului Airport after many flights were canceled. Officials were preparing the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu to take in thousands of displaced tourists and locals.Mauro Farinelli, of Lahaina, said the winds had started blowing hard on Tuesday, and then somehow a fire had started up on a hillside.“It just ripped through everything with amazing speed,” he said, adding it was “like a blowtorch.”The winds were so strong they blew his garage door off its hinges and trapped his car in the garage, Farinelli said. So a friend drove him, along with his wife Judit and dog Susi, to an evacuation shelter. He had no idea what had happened to their home.“We’re hoping for the best,” he said, “but we’re pretty sure it’s gone.”President Joe Biden said he'd ordered all available federal assets to help with the response. He said the Hawaii National Guard had mobilized Chinook helicopters to help with fire suppression as well as search and rescue efforts on Maui.“Our prayers are with those who have seen their homes, businesses and communities destroyed," Biden said in a statement.Former President Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, said on social media that it’s tough to see some of the images coming out of a place that is so special to many.Alan Dickar, who owns a poster gallery and three houses in Lahaina, said most tourists who come to Maui visit Front Street.“The central two blocks is the economic heart of this island, and I don’t know what’s left," he said.Dickar took video of flames engulfing the main strip before escaping with three friends and two cats.“Every significant thing I owned burned down today,” he said. “I’ll be OK. I got out safely.”Wildfires were also burning on Hawaii’s Big Island, Mayor Mitch Roth said, although there had been no reports of injuries or destroyed homes there. Roth said firefighters had needed to extinguish some roof fires and there were continuing flareups of one fire near the Mauna Kea Resorts.Acting Gov. Sylvia Luke said the flames had wiped out communities and urged travelers to stay away.“This is not a safe place to be,” she said.Luke issued an emergency proclamation on behalf of Gov. Josh Green, who was traveling. Green's office said he'd cut short his trip and was returning Wednesday evening.Fires in Hawaii are unlike many of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bonny-fire-york-california-nevada-wildfires-mojave-3fe4fc9ea8bb500bb48e7589f16911ad">those burning in the U.S. West</a>. They tend to break out in large grasslands on the dry sides of the islands and are generally much smaller than mainland fires. A&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fires-environment-and-nature-droughts-hawaii-wildfires-ca2f8cbf76abf6affbbee9fce3be69a8">major fire on the Big Island in 2021</a>&nbsp;burned homes and forced thousands to evacuate.The 2018&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wildfires-business-environment-and-nature-gavin-newsom-paradise-dbae2ef725b32d91ff4c612de38f01e2">Camp Fire</a>&nbsp;in the Sierra Nevada foothills of California killed at least 85 people and destroyed nearly 19,000 homes.Yasso, who fled her home with boyfriend Kawaakoa, said residents are going to need time to regroup and that people shouldn't plan to visit right now.“It’s everybody losing their memories of growing up,” she said. “It’s the memories for everybody. We all lost our homes with this.”

Dozens dead, injured on Maui as fires burn through Hawaii

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to block and regulate high-tech U.S.-based investments going toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-biden-xi-jinping-dictator-c1fe17f72e2d37fcc840575eea1b78d2">China</a>&nbsp;— a move the administration said was targeted but it also reflected an intensifying competition between the world's two biggest powers.

The order covers advanced computer chips, micro electronics, quantum information technologies and artificial intelligence. Senior administration officials said that the effort stemmed from national security goals rather than economic interests, and that the categories it covered were intentionally narrow in scope. The order seeks to blunt China's ability to use U.S. investments in its technology companies to upgrade its military while also preserving broader levels of trade that are vital for both nations' economies.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded in a statement early Thursday that it has “serious concern” about the order and “reserves the right to take measures.”

The United States and China appear to be increasingly locked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-china-18398dd629fa6b4d5d93a439e003cb11">geopolitical competition</a>&nbsp;with a conflicting set of values. Biden administration officials have insisted that they have no interest in “decoupling” from China, yet the U.S. also has limited the export of advanced computer chips and kept the expanded tariffs set up by President Donald Trump. And in its response, China accused the U.S. of “using the cover of ‘risk reduction’ to carry out ‘decoupling and chain-breaking.’” China has engaged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-foreign-business-crackdown-349cf4e894fef93c9fd150ac1242bfb1">crackdowns</a>&nbsp;on foreign companies.

Biden has suggested that China's economy is struggling and its global ambitions have been tempered as the U.S. has reenergized its alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the European Union. The administration consulted with allies and industry in shaping the executive order.

“Worry about China, but don’t worry about China,” Biden told donors at a June fundraising event in California.

The officials previewing the order said that China has exploited U.S. investments to support the development of weapons and modernize its military. The new limits were tailored not to disrupt China's economy, but they would complement the export controls on advanced computer chips from last year that led to pushback by Chinese officials. The Treasury Department, which would monitor the investments, will announce a proposed rulemaking with definitions that would conform to the presidential order and go through a public comment process.

The goals of the order would be to have investors notify the U.S. government about certain types of transactions with China as well as to place prohibitions on some investments. Officials said the order is focused on areas such as private equity, venture capital and joint partnerships in which the investments could possibly give countries of concern such as China additional knowledge and military capabilities.

J. Philip Ludvigson, a lawyer and former Treasury official, said the order was an initial framework that could be expanded over time.

“The executive order issued today really represents the start of a conversation between the U.S. government and industry regarding the details of the ultimate screening regime," Ludvigson said. “While the executive order is limited initially to semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence, it explicitly provides for a future broadening to other sectors."

The issue is also a bipartisan priority. In July by a vote of 91-6, the Senate added as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requirements to monitor and limit investments in countries of concern, including China.

Yet reaction to Biden's order on Wednesday showed a desire to push harder on China. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said the order was an “essential step forward," but it “cannot be the final step.” Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Biden should been more aggressive, saying, “we have to stop all U.S. investment in China’s critical technology and military companies — period.”

Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” in the aftermath of the U.S. shooting down a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-china-18398dd629fa6b4d5d93a439e003cb11">spy balloon</a>&nbsp;from China that floated over the United States. Taiwan's status has been a source of tension, with Biden saying that China had become coercive regarding its independence.

China has supported Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though Biden has noted that the friendship has not extended to the shipment of weapons.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it met a number of times with the White House and federal agencies as the order was being prepared and said its goal during the comment period will be “to ensure the measure is targeted and administrable.”

U.S. officials have long signaled the coming executive order on investing in China, but it's unclear whether financial markets will regard it as a tapered step or a continued escalation of tensions at a fragile moment.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1691616065590.png" alt="Biden at the Grand Canyon on Wednesday-White House image" />
 <figcaption>Biden at the Grand Canyon on Wednesday-White House image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to block and regulate high-tech U.S.-based investments going toward&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-biden-xi-jinping-dictator-c1fe17f72e2d37fcc840575eea1b78d2">China</a>&nbsp;— a move the administration said was targeted but it also reflected an intensifying competition between the world's two biggest powers.The order covers advanced computer chips, micro electronics, quantum information technologies and artificial intelligence. Senior administration officials said that the effort stemmed from national security goals rather than economic interests, and that the categories it covered were intentionally narrow in scope. The order seeks to blunt China's ability to use U.S. investments in its technology companies to upgrade its military while also preserving broader levels of trade that are vital for both nations' economies.The Chinese Ministry of Commerce responded in a statement early Thursday that it has “serious concern” about the order and “reserves the right to take measures.”The United States and China appear to be increasingly locked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-china-18398dd629fa6b4d5d93a439e003cb11">geopolitical competition</a>&nbsp;with a conflicting set of values. Biden administration officials have insisted that they have no interest in “decoupling” from China, yet the U.S. also has limited the export of advanced computer chips and kept the expanded tariffs set up by President Donald Trump. And in its response, China accused the U.S. of “using the cover of ‘risk reduction’ to carry out ‘decoupling and chain-breaking.’” China has engaged in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-foreign-business-crackdown-349cf4e894fef93c9fd150ac1242bfb1">crackdowns</a>&nbsp;on foreign companies.Biden has suggested that China's economy is struggling and its global ambitions have been tempered as the U.S. has reenergized its alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia and the European Union. The administration consulted with allies and industry in shaping the executive order.“Worry about China, but don’t worry about China,” Biden told donors at a June fundraising event in California.The officials previewing the order said that China has exploited U.S. investments to support the development of weapons and modernize its military. The new limits were tailored not to disrupt China's economy, but they would complement the export controls on advanced computer chips from last year that led to pushback by Chinese officials. The Treasury Department, which would monitor the investments, will announce a proposed rulemaking with definitions that would conform to the presidential order and go through a public comment process.The goals of the order would be to have investors notify the U.S. government about certain types of transactions with China as well as to place prohibitions on some investments. Officials said the order is focused on areas such as private equity, venture capital and joint partnerships in which the investments could possibly give countries of concern such as China additional knowledge and military capabilities.J. Philip Ludvigson, a lawyer and former Treasury official, said the order was an initial framework that could be expanded over time.“The executive order issued today really represents the start of a conversation between the U.S. government and industry regarding the details of the ultimate screening regime," Ludvigson said. “While the executive order is limited initially to semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and artificial intelligence, it explicitly provides for a future broadening to other sectors."The issue is also a bipartisan priority. In July by a vote of 91-6, the Senate added as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act requirements to monitor and limit investments in countries of concern, including China.Yet reaction to Biden's order on Wednesday showed a desire to push harder on China. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Ill., said the order was an “essential step forward," but it “cannot be the final step.” Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Biden should been more aggressive, saying, “we have to stop all U.S. investment in China’s critical technology and military companies — period.”Biden has called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “dictator” in the aftermath of the U.S. shooting down a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-united-states-government-china-18398dd629fa6b4d5d93a439e003cb11">spy balloon</a>&nbsp;from China that floated over the United States. Taiwan's status has been a source of tension, with Biden saying that China had become coercive regarding its independence.China has supported Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, though Biden has noted that the friendship has not extended to the shipment of weapons.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce said it met a number of times with the White House and federal agencies as the order was being prepared and said its goal during the comment period will be “to ensure the measure is targeted and administrable.”U.S. officials have long signaled the coming executive order on investing in China, but it's unclear whether financial markets will regard it as a tapered step or a continued escalation of tensions at a fragile moment.“The message it sends to the market may be far more decisive,” said Elaine Dezenski, a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. "U.S. and multinational companies are already reexamining the risks of investing in China. Beijing’s so-called ‘national security’ and ‘anti-espionage’ laws that curb routine and necessary corporate due diligence and compliance were already having a chilling effect on U.S. foreign direct investment. That chilling now risks turning into a deep freeze.”In its statement, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said the executive order “seriously deviates from the market economy and fair competition principles the United States has always advocated. It affects the normal business decisions of enterprises, disrupts the international economic and trade order and seriously disrupts the security of global industrial and supply chains.”China's strong economic growth has stumbled coming out of pandemic lockdowns. On Wednesday, its National Bureau of Statistics reported a 0.3% decline in consumer prices in July from a year ago. That level of deflation points to a lack of consumer demand in China that could hamper growth.Separately, foreign direct investment into China fell 89% from a year earlier in the second quarter of this year to $4.9 billion, according to data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.Most foreign investment is believed to be brought in by Chinese companies and disguised as foreign money to get tax breaks and other benefits, according to Chinese researchers.However, foreign business groups say global companies also are shifting investment plans to other economies.Foreign companies have lost confidence in China following tighter security controls and a lack of action on reform promises. Calls by Xi and other leaders for more economic self-reliance have left investors uneasy about their future in the state-dominated economy.___