Lincoln, NE ‐ August 24, 2023 ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Wednesday, August 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Wednesday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Casey's #2291, 704 West B St, in McCook. The winning numbers from Wednesday's 2by2 draw were Red 15, 17, and White 03, 11. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.

2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $936 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil Watson Nebraska LotteryLincoln, NE ‐ August 24, 2023 ‐ One lucky player who bought a 2by2 ticket for the Wednesday, August 23 drawing is holding a ticket worth $22,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Wednesday's 2by2 draw matched all four winning numbers for the $22,000 top prize. The ticket was sold at Casey's #2291, 704 West B St, in McCook. The winning numbers from Wednesday's 2by2 draw were Red 15, 17, and White 03, 11. Players are encouraged to check their tickets at any Nebraska Lottery retailer, online at&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling the Lottery office at 402-471-6100.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed in person at Lottery headquarters in Lincoln. Additional information about claiming prizes can be found at the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, or by calling 800-587-5200.2by2 is run by the Multi-State Lottery Association and was introduced in June 2002. Players in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Wyoming have the opportunity to win up to $22,000 Monday through Sunday by playing 2by2. The odds of winning the $22,000 2by2 top prize are 1 in 105,625. The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 3.59.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $936 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery's beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

$22,000 2by2 Winning Ticket Sold in McCook

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;fought — sometimes bitterly — over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and the type of experience needed to manage an expansive federal government during the first debate of the 2024 campaign.

<a href="https://rumble.com/v3ak5c2-fox-news-republican-presidential-primary-debate.html">Click here to </a>watch the replay of the debate

But when it came to arguably the most consequential choice facing the party, virtually everyone on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night lined up behind Trump, who declined to participate, citing his commanding lead. Most said they would support Trump as their nominee even if he is convicted in a series of cases that range from his handling of classified documents to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in making hush money payments to a porn actress and other women.

“Let’s just speak the truth," said tech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>. “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact.”

In the face of such an unprecedented moment in American politics, that sentiment was a reminder of the power Trump continues to wield in the party and the reluctance of most GOP White House hopefuls to directly confront him or his norm-breaking activity. And it spoke to the struggle of any single candidate in the crowded field to emerge as a credible counter to Trump with less than five months until the Iowa caucuses formally jumpstart the GOP presidential nomination process.

That challenge was particularly acute for Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>, who announced his campaign in May to great fanfare but has since struggled to gain traction. He was sometimes eclipsed on Wednesday by lower-polling candidates, including former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>, a generally understated politician who demonstrated an aggressive side as he positioned himself as the most experienced candidate on stage.

Pence along with former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;sparred frequently with Ramaswamy. The goal for almost every candidate was to use the event, hosted by Fox News, to displace DeSantis from his distant second-place standing and introduce themselves to viewers who are just tuning into the race.

While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon. The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state's 2020 election.

The moderators appeared apologetic about even raising the issue of a potentially incarcerated nominee, saying they would spend just a “brief moment" discussing the man they called “the elephant not in the room,” which drew boos from the audience.

“Someone’s got to stop normalizing misconduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States,” said Christie, a onetime Trump ally who has since become a fierce critic.

Former Arkansas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/asa-hutchinson">Asa Hutchinson</a>&nbsp;was the only person who clearly refused to raise his hand, indicating he would not support Trump as the nominee if he was convicted.

DeSantis was among those who did raise his hand. He said Pence “did his duty” on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to overturn the vote, but nonetheless pressed the hosts to move on.

“This election is not about Jan. 6, 2021. It’s about Jan. 20 of 2025 when the next president is going to take office,” he said.

For his part, Pence defended his decision not to overturn the election in Trump's favor, a move that ended their strong partnership, saying he upheld his oath to defend the constitution.

Trump, who had long said he felt it would be foolish to participate in the debate given his dominant lead in the race, followed through with his threat to skip the Fox event in a blow to the network. Instead, Trump pre-recorded an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-out-fox-news-58a8421c55978f223b9c4b1d1cbe50be">ex-Fox host Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;that was posted to the platform formerly known as Twitter right before the debate kicked off.

“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that at a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?” Trump said.

But even without Trump, the debate demonstrated sharp divisions within the party that he has stoked on issues including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;between Russia and Ukraine after Russia’s invasion nearly 18-months ago. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy said they opposed more funding to Ukraine, arguing the money should be spent securing the U.S. border against drug and human trafficking.

“As president of the United States, your first obligation is to defend our country and its people,” DeSantis said.

Ramaswamy compared support for Ukraine to the ill-fated U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Vietnam.

Christie, Pence and former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;cast support for Ukraine as a moral obligation and a national security imperative, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his aggression if he succeeds in Ukraine, potentially threatening U.S. allies.

“Anybody who thinks we can't solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.

The candidates also tangled on abortion, underscoring the party’s challenges on the issue after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year. All of the candidates identified as “pro-life,” but they differed on when restrictions should kick in after the court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states.

DeSantis refused again to say whether he supports a federal ban.

“I’m going to stand on the side of life. Look, I understand Wisconsin is going to do it different than Texas. I understand Iowa and New Hampshire are going to be different, but I will support the cause of life as governor and as president,” he said.

Haley, who has said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban, argued for consensus, saying that barring the procedure nationwide would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress.

“Consensus is the opposite of leadership,” rebutted Pence, who has made his opposition to abortion rights a central tenet of his campaign. Pence supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant, and has called on the field to back a 15-week national ban as a minimum.

South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;also countered those who argued the issue should be left to the states. “We cannot let states like California, New York, Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth. That is immoral, it is unethical, it is wrong," he said.

While DeSantis had expected to be the top target as the front-runner on the stage, the candidates focused many of their attacks on Ramaswamy, who has been rising in the polls and espouses many of Trump's positions.

“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience,” quipped Pence.

“I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” he said, referencing the artificial intelligence chat program, and calling him an “amateur.”

“Give me a hug just like you did to Obama,” Ramaswamy shot back — a reference to Christie’s embrace of the former president after a storm ravaged his state.

Haley, the only woman on stage in a sea of men wearing red ties, tried to rise above the fray.

“I think this is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, ’If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,” she said.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-presidential-debate-2024-election-qualified-candidates-863ffb85147072c4e9cf021e85d4ba1b" target="_blank">Republican candidates</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-debate-gop-fox-news-b13fe11e3810512ff35e6c534f1e5ca2" target="_blank">meet on the debate stage</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">first time Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far. The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">won’t participate</a>. He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in many polls, is betting that a strong showing will cement his status as the strongest alternative to the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-republican-president-iowa-trump-2024-reset-662ac8017fcda6a9e9ede6a6034328ee" target="_blank">despite his many stumbles</a>. DeSantis’ team sees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a" target="_blank">rising newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy</a>, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, as a threat, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence have positioned themselves to compete.

The debate also features a handful of aggressive Trump critics led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50" target="_blank">anti-Trump message is the centerpiece of his campaign</a>&nbsp;despite the former president’s continued popularity in the party. Other lesser-known candidates including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are largely trying to introduce themselves to voters across the country to help qualify for the second debate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692842815070.png" alt="While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose former President Donald Trump&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose former President Donald Trump&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;fought — sometimes bitterly — over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and the type of experience needed to manage an expansive federal government during the first debate of the 2024 campaign.<a href="https://rumble.com/v3ak5c2-fox-news-republican-presidential-primary-debate.html">Click here to </a>watch the replay of the debateBut when it came to arguably the most consequential choice facing the party, virtually everyone on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night lined up behind Trump, who declined to participate, citing his commanding lead. Most said they would support Trump as their nominee even if he is convicted in a series of cases that range from his handling of classified documents to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his role in making hush money payments to a porn actress and other women.“Let’s just speak the truth," said tech entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a">Vivek Ramaswamy</a>. “President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact.”In the face of such an unprecedented moment in American politics, that sentiment was a reminder of the power Trump continues to wield in the party and the reluctance of most GOP White House hopefuls to directly confront him or his norm-breaking activity. And it spoke to the struggle of any single candidate in the crowded field to emerge as a credible counter to Trump with less than five months until the Iowa caucuses formally jumpstart the GOP presidential nomination process.That challenge was particularly acute for Florida Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/ron-desantis">Ron DeSantis</a>, who announced his campaign in May to great fanfare but has since struggled to gain traction. He was sometimes eclipsed on Wednesday by lower-polling candidates, including former Vice President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-pence">Mike Pence</a>, a generally understated politician who demonstrated an aggressive side as he positioned himself as the most experienced candidate on stage.Pence along with former New Jersey Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/chris-christie">Chris Christie</a>&nbsp;sparred frequently with Ramaswamy. The goal for almost every candidate was to use the event, hosted by Fox News, to displace DeSantis from his distant second-place standing and introduce themselves to viewers who are just tuning into the race.While the candidates repeatedly tangled — often talking over moderators&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-debate-fox-news-donald-trump-8baec33df214da0b36df6eff54bde286">Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum</a>&nbsp;— most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon. The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state's 2020 election.The moderators appeared apologetic about even raising the issue of a potentially incarcerated nominee, saying they would spend just a “brief moment" discussing the man they called “the elephant not in the room,” which drew boos from the audience.“Someone’s got to stop normalizing misconduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States,” said Christie, a onetime Trump ally who has since become a fierce critic.Former Arkansas Gov.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/asa-hutchinson">Asa Hutchinson</a>&nbsp;was the only person who clearly refused to raise his hand, indicating he would not support Trump as the nominee if he was convicted.DeSantis was among those who did raise his hand. He said Pence “did his duty” on Jan. 6, 2021, when he refused to go along with Trump’s unconstitutional scheme to overturn the vote, but nonetheless pressed the hosts to move on.“This election is not about Jan. 6, 2021. It’s about Jan. 20 of 2025 when the next president is going to take office,” he said.For his part, Pence defended his decision not to overturn the election in Trump's favor, a move that ended their strong partnership, saying he upheld his oath to defend the constitution.Trump, who had long said he felt it would be foolish to participate in the debate given his dominant lead in the race, followed through with his threat to skip the Fox event in a blow to the network. Instead, Trump pre-recorded an interview with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tucker-carlson-out-fox-news-58a8421c55978f223b9c4b1d1cbe50be">ex-Fox host Tucker Carlson</a>&nbsp;that was posted to the platform formerly known as Twitter right before the debate kicked off.“Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president? Should I be doing that at a network that isn’t particularly friendly to me?” Trump said.But even without Trump, the debate demonstrated sharp divisions within the party that he has stoked on issues including the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">war</a>&nbsp;between Russia and Ukraine after Russia’s invasion nearly 18-months ago. Both DeSantis and Ramaswamy said they opposed more funding to Ukraine, arguing the money should be spent securing the U.S. border against drug and human trafficking.“As president of the United States, your first obligation is to defend our country and its people,” DeSantis said.Ramaswamy compared support for Ukraine to the ill-fated U.S. military interventions in Iraq and Vietnam.Christie, Pence and former U.N. Ambassador&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;cast support for Ukraine as a moral obligation and a national security imperative, warning that Russian President Vladimir Putin will continue his aggression if he succeeds in Ukraine, potentially threatening U.S. allies.“Anybody who thinks we can't solve problems here in the United States and be the leader of the free world has a small view of the greatest nation on earth,” Pence said.The candidates also tangled on abortion, underscoring the party’s challenges on the issue after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade</a>&nbsp;last year. All of the candidates identified as “pro-life,” but they differed on when restrictions should kick in after the court ended the constitutional right to an abortion, leading to a wave of restrictions in Republican-led states.DeSantis refused again to say whether he supports a federal ban.“I’m going to stand on the side of life. Look, I understand Wisconsin is going to do it different than Texas. I understand Iowa and New Hampshire are going to be different, but I will support the cause of life as governor and as president,” he said.Haley, who has said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban, argued for consensus, saying that barring the procedure nationwide would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress.“Consensus is the opposite of leadership,” rebutted Pence, who has made his opposition to abortion rights a central tenet of his campaign. Pence supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant, and has called on the field to back a 15-week national ban as a minimum.South Carolina Sen.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tim-scott">Tim Scott</a>&nbsp;also countered those who argued the issue should be left to the states. “We cannot let states like California, New York, Illinois have abortions on demand up until the day of birth. That is immoral, it is unethical, it is wrong," he said.While DeSantis had expected to be the top target as the front-runner on the stage, the candidates focused many of their attacks on Ramaswamy, who has been rising in the polls and espouses many of Trump's positions.“Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie. We don’t need to bring in people without experience,” quipped Pence.Christie also laced into Ramaswamy.“I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here,” he said, referencing the artificial intelligence chat program, and calling him an “amateur.”“Give me a hug just like you did to Obama,” Ramaswamy shot back — a reference to Christie’s embrace of the former president after a storm ravaged his state.Haley, the only woman on stage in a sea of men wearing red ties, tried to rise above the fray.“I think this is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, ’If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman,” she said.MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-presidential-debate-2024-election-qualified-candidates-863ffb85147072c4e9cf021e85d4ba1b" target="_blank">Republican candidates</a>&nbsp;will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republican-primary-debate-gop-fox-news-b13fe11e3810512ff35e6c534f1e5ca2" target="_blank">meet on the debate stage</a>&nbsp;for the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/89812d5aa1ed6a4ebe7373ff36858250" target="_blank">first time Wednesday night</a>&nbsp;in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far. The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former President Donald Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-republican-primary-debate-9b6c7e74c7ce908cd082df3bb192535f" target="_blank">won’t participate</a>. He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a distant second to Trump in many polls, is betting that a strong showing will cement his status as the strongest alternative to the former president&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/desantis-republican-president-iowa-trump-2024-reset-662ac8017fcda6a9e9ede6a6034328ee" target="_blank">despite his many stumbles</a>. DeSantis’ team sees&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/vivek-trump-republican-primary-president-ramaswamy-768b865d113f603a721cb0f7d1e8053a" target="_blank">rising newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy</a>, a 38-year-old entrepreneur, as a threat, while South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence have positioned themselves to compete.The debate also features a handful of aggressive Trump critics led by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, whose&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50" target="_blank">anti-Trump message is the centerpiece of his campaign</a>&nbsp;despite the former president’s continued popularity in the party. Other lesser-known candidates including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson are largely trying to introduce themselves to voters across the country to help qualify for the second debate.

🎥 GOP candidates fight each other at first presidential debate

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/heres-what-to-know-about-new-federal-policies-for-repaying-student-loans/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s summer ruling against 40 million federal student loan borrowers who would have qualified for debt relief, the Biden administration crafted a year-long delay in repayments.

The policy, known as an on-ramp, is set to begin next month.

Additionally, hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Department of Education unveiled a new repayment plan for those with federal student loans, known as Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE.&nbsp; The new income-driven repayment plan calculates payments based on a borrower’s income and family size and forgives balances after a set number of years.

It’s estimated by the administration that more than 20 million borrowers will benefit. Borrowers can apply&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan">here.</a>&nbsp;A campaign is being launched to publicize the new program, by the Department of Education in collaboration with groups like the Student Debt Crisis Center, UnidosUS and the NAACP.

“This plan is a game changer for millions of Americans, many of whom are putting off having children, buying their first home, or even starting a business because they can’t get out from under their student loans,” said White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden on a call with reporters on Monday. “Student loans will be manageable.”

Last year, the Biden administration rolled out a debt forgiveness plan for borrowers with federal student loans that would have been a one-time cancellation of up to $10,000. Borrowers who had received Pell Grants — federal aid to help low-income students pay for higher education — could qualify for an additional $10,000 in forgiveness.

<a target="_blank" href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/06/30/us-supreme-court-rules-against-biden-administration-student-loan-debt-relief-plan/">The conservative bloc of the Supreme Court on June 30&nbsp;</a>ruled that the Biden administration did not have the legal authority to enact that one-time student debt relief program. The case was filed by Republican attorneys general of Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina, and they argued the Biden administration overstepped its reach.

Following that decision from the court, the Biden administration initiated rulemaking through the Higher Education Act to try again to enact debt relief and finalized a rule for the new repayment plan known as SAVE.

Here are some questions and answers about the on-ramp policy and SAVE plan.

Federal student loan repayments are set to resume in October, but while borrowers have a year of leniency to begin repayments, interest will continue to accrue starting in September. The on-ramp program starts Oct. 1 and will extend until Sept. 30 of next year.

“Financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies,” according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/30/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-provide-debt-relief-and-support-for-student-loan-borrowers/">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;released by the White House.

The Department of Education did not respond to questions from States Newsroom asking how the agency would prevent loan servicers from reporting borrowers to credit bureau or debt collectors.

How is the on-ramp policy different from the pause on federal student loan repayments?

The pause on federal student loan repayments was first put in place by the Trump administration in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and has been extended several times.

The pause meant those with federal student loans did not have to repay, and no interest accrued. With this new policy, interest will still accrue, but borrowers have a year before having to start paying back their loans.

What does a final rule for the SAVE plan mean?

<a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2021/idrfactsheetfinal.pdf">This is an income-driven repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that the Department of Education said will cut borrowers’ monthly payments in half. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-launches-most-affordable-repayment-plan-ever-transforming-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation?utm_content=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_name=&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_term=">official launch&nbsp;</a>of the application was Tuesday.

A borrower could save more than $1,000 per year on payments, compared to other income-driven repayment plans. And, depending on income levels, it will allow more than 1 million additional borrowers to make $0 monthly payments without their interest accruing, the Department of Education estimates.

Borrowers with undergraduate loans will pay 5% of their discretionary income, rather than the 10% required under previous income repayment plans. Borrowers with undergraduate and graduate loans will pay a weighted average between 5% and 10% of their incomes.

The White House said a borrower’s monthly payment will be based on their discretionary income, defined in the plan as the difference between their adjusted gross income and 225% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guideline amount for the family size. Borrowers who earn a minimum wage of $15 an hour will not have to make a monthly payment.

According to the Department of Education, that means borrowers will not owe loan payments if they are a single person earning $32,800 or less or a family of four earning $67,500 or less, though the amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.

The plan also forgives loan balances after as little as 10 years of payment, rather than 20 years under previous income repayment plans. The plan also does not charge borrowers with unpaid monthly interest, as long as those borrowers are making their monthly payments.

Who qualifies for the SAVE student loan repayment plan?&nbsp;

Most federal student loan borrowers are going to qualify for this plan. However, those with Direct PLUS loans to parents and certain other loans will not qualify for it; the list can be found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan">here.</a>

Borrowers signed up for the current Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE) plan will automatically be enrolled in SAVE.

How is SAVE different from previous federal student loan repayment plans?

With this plan, if your calculated payment ends up to be less than the amount of interest that accrues every month, that remaining interest will be forgiven. The previous plan did not have that element, so borrowers were continuing to see their balances grow.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602603609844.jpeg" alt="Student Loan Art photo on file" />
 <figcaption>Student Loan Art photo on file</figcaption>
 </figure>Ariana Figueroa<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/heres-what-to-know-about-new-federal-policies-for-repaying-student-loans/">Nebraska Examiner</a>WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s summer ruling against 40 million federal student loan borrowers who would have qualified for debt relief, the Biden administration crafted a year-long delay in repayments.The policy, known as an on-ramp, is set to begin next month.Additionally, hours after the Supreme Court’s decision, the Department of Education unveiled a new repayment plan for those with federal student loans, known as Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE.&nbsp; The new income-driven repayment plan calculates payments based on a borrower’s income and family size and forgives balances after a set number of years.It’s estimated by the administration that more than 20 million borrowers will benefit. Borrowers can apply&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan">here.</a>&nbsp;A campaign is being launched to publicize the new program, by the Department of Education in collaboration with groups like the Student Debt Crisis Center, UnidosUS and the NAACP.“This plan is a game changer for millions of Americans, many of whom are putting off having children, buying their first home, or even starting a business because they can’t get out from under their student loans,” said White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden on a call with reporters on Monday. “Student loans will be manageable.”Last year, the Biden administration rolled out a debt forgiveness plan for borrowers with federal student loans that would have been a one-time cancellation of up to $10,000. Borrowers who had received Pell Grants — federal aid to help low-income students pay for higher education — could qualify for an additional $10,000 in forgiveness.<a target="_blank" href="https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/06/30/us-supreme-court-rules-against-biden-administration-student-loan-debt-relief-plan/">The conservative bloc of the Supreme Court on June 30&nbsp;</a>ruled that the Biden administration did not have the legal authority to enact that one-time student debt relief program. The case was filed by Republican attorneys general of Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina, and they argued the Biden administration overstepped its reach.Following that decision from the court, the Biden administration initiated rulemaking through the Higher Education Act to try again to enact debt relief and finalized a rule for the new repayment plan known as SAVE.Here are some questions and answers about the on-ramp policy and SAVE plan.<h2>When does the on-ramp program start?</h2>Federal student loan repayments are set to resume in October, but while borrowers have a year of leniency to begin repayments, interest will continue to accrue starting in September. The on-ramp program starts Oct. 1 and will extend until Sept. 30 of next year.“Financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies,” according to a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/06/30/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-new-actions-to-provide-debt-relief-and-support-for-student-loan-borrowers/">fact sheet</a>&nbsp;released by the White House.The Department of Education did not respond to questions from States Newsroom asking how the agency would prevent loan servicers from reporting borrowers to credit bureau or debt collectors.<h2>How is the on-ramp policy different from the pause on federal student loan repayments?</h2>The pause on federal student loan repayments was first put in place by the Trump administration in 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic and has been extended several times.The pause meant those with federal student loans did not have to repay, and no interest accrued. With this new policy, interest will still accrue, but borrowers have a year before having to start paying back their loans.<h2>What does a final rule for the SAVE plan mean?</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www2.ed.gov/policy/highered/reg/hearulemaking/2021/idrfactsheetfinal.pdf">This is an income-driven repayment plan</a>&nbsp;that the Department of Education said will cut borrowers’ monthly payments in half. The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-launches-most-affordable-repayment-plan-ever-transforming-income-driven-repayment-cutting-undergraduate-payments-half-and-preventing-unpaid-interest-accumulation?utm_content=&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_name=&amp;utm_source=govdelivery&amp;utm_term=">official launch&nbsp;</a>of the application was Tuesday.A borrower could save more than $1,000 per year on payments, compared to other income-driven repayment plans. And, depending on income levels, it will allow more than 1 million additional borrowers to make $0 monthly payments without their interest accruing, the Department of Education estimates.<h2>How does the SAVE plan work?</h2>Borrowers with undergraduate loans will pay 5% of their discretionary income, rather than the 10% required under previous income repayment plans. Borrowers with undergraduate and graduate loans will pay a weighted average between 5% and 10% of their incomes.The White House said a borrower’s monthly payment will be based on their discretionary income, defined in the plan as the difference between their adjusted gross income and 225% of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services poverty guideline amount for the family size. Borrowers who earn a minimum wage of $15 an hour will not have to make a monthly payment.According to the Department of Education, that means borrowers will not owe loan payments if they are a single person earning $32,800 or less or a family of four earning $67,500 or less, though the amounts are higher in Alaska and Hawaii.The plan also forgives loan balances after as little as 10 years of payment, rather than 20 years under previous income repayment plans. The plan also does not charge borrowers with unpaid monthly interest, as long as those borrowers are making their monthly payments.<h2>Who qualifies for the SAVE student loan repayment plan?&nbsp;</h2>Most federal student loan borrowers are going to qualify for this plan. However, those with Direct PLUS loans to parents and certain other loans will not qualify for it; the list can be found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/save-plan">here.</a>Borrowers signed up for the current Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE) plan will automatically be enrolled in SAVE.<h2>How is SAVE different from previous federal student loan repayment plans?</h2>With this plan, if your calculated payment ends up to be less than the amount of interest that accrues every month, that remaining interest will be forgiven. The previous plan did not have that element, so borrowers were continuing to see their balances grow.

Here’s what to know about new federal policies for repaying student loans

ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's lawyer and confidant, turned himself in at a jail in Atlanta on Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">then-President Trump's loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

The former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">indicted last week</a>&nbsp;along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-indictment-meadows-guiliani-084efc6796becef3714196cee3854cf6">17 others</a>. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said they participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020.

Bond for Giuliani, who was released after booking like the other defendants, was set at $150,000, second only to Trump’s $200,000.

Giuliani, 79, is accused of spearheading Trump’s efforts to compel state lawmakers in Georgia and other closely contested states to ignore the will of voters and illegally appoint electoral college electors favorable to Trump.

Other high-profile defendants also surrendered Wednesday, including Jenna Ellis, an attorney who prosecutors say was involved in efforts to convince state lawmakers to unlawfully appoint presidential electors, and lawyer Sidney Powell, accused of making false statements about the election in Georgia and helping to organize a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">breach of voting equipment</a>&nbsp;in rural Coffee County.

Georgia was one of several key states Trump lost by slim margins, prompting the Republican and his allies to proclaim, without evidence, that the election was rigged in favor of his Democratic rival Biden.

Giuliani is charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of office to appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.

Outside the Fulton County Jail Wednesday afternoon, Giuliani laughed when asked if he regretted allying himself with Trump.

“I am very, very honored to be involved in this case because this case is a fight for our way of life," Giuliani told reporters. "This indictment is a travesty. It’s an attack on -- not just me, not just President Trump, not just the people in this indictment, some of whom I don’t even know – this is an attack on the American people."

After Giuliani's surrender, Trump repeated his unfounded claims that the election was rigged and stolen and wrote on his social media site, “The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity.”

Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-georgia-election-indictment-79dbb26a14b5a4ccfc1472d6d3eacd2b">plans to turn himself in</a>&nbsp;at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday. He and his allies have characterized the investigation as politically motivated and have heavily criticized District Attorney Willis, a Democrat.

Also Wednesday, Willis’ team urged a judge to reject requests from two of the people indicted — former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark — to avoid having to be booked in jail while they fight to move the case to federal court.

U.S. District Judge Steve Jones quickly rejected Clark's request. He wrote that until a federal court takes jurisdiction over a case that originates in state court, the state court proceedings continue. No ruling on Meadows' request was immediately available in online court records.

Willis has set a deadline of noon on Friday for the people indicted last week in the election subversion case to turn themselves in. Her team has been negotiating bond amounts and conditions with the lawyers for the defendants before they surrender at the jail.

Misty Hampton, who was the Coffee County elections director when a breach of election equipment happened there, had her bond set at $10,000. David Shafer, who's a former Georgia Republican Party chair and served as one of 16 fake electors for Trump, and Cathy Latham, who's accused in the Coffee County breach and was also a fake elector, turned themselves in Wednesday morning. Also surrendering Wednesday were lawyers Ray Smith and Kenneth Chesebro, who prosecutors said helped organize the fake electors meeting at the state Capitol in December 2020.

Attorney John Eastman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">pushed a plan to keep</a>&nbsp;Trump in power, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman who was accused of participating in the breach of election equipment in Coffee County,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-clark-7641b5c61dbcc39ee3f0edbe51558925">turned themselves in</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.

The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has said it will release booking photos at 4 p.m. each day, but Shafer&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/1694303972427763731">appeared to post his</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 7 a.m. Wednesday with the message, “Good morning! #NewProfilePicture.”

While Republicans in Georgia and elsewhere are calling for Willis to be punished for indicting Trump, a group of Black pastors and community activists gathered outside the state Capitol in Atlanta Wednesday to pray for and proclaim their support for the Democratic prosecutor.

Bishop Reginald Jackson, who leads Georgia’s African Methodist Episcopal churches, said that Willis is under attack “as a result of her courage and determination.”

Former White House chief of staff Meadows and former Justice Department official Clark are seeking to move their cases from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court. Both argue the actions that gave rise to the charges in the indictment were related to their work as federal officials and that the state charges against them should be dismissed.

While those motions are pending, they argue, they should not have to turn themselves in for booking at the Fulton County Jail.

In a filing Wednesday, Willis' team argued that Meadows has failed to demonstrate any hardship that would authorize the judge to prevent his arrest. The filing notes that other defendants, including Trump, had agreed to voluntarily surrender by the deadline.

In a second filing, Willis' team argued that Clark's effort to halt any Fulton County proceedings while his motion is pending amounts to an attempt “to avoid the inconvenience and unpleasantness of being arrested or subject to the mandatory state criminal process."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692827609455.png" alt="Giuliani-photo Fulton Co." />
 <figcaption>Giuliani-photo Fulton Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>ATLANTA (AP) — Rudy Giuliani, Donald Trump's lawyer and confidant, turned himself in at a jail in Atlanta on Wednesday on charges related to efforts to overturn&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-wins-white-house-ap-fd58df73aa677acb74fce2a69adb71f9">then-President Trump's loss</a>&nbsp;in the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.The former New York mayor, who was one referred to as 'America's Mayor, was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-investigation-grand-jury-willis-d39562cedfc60d64948708de1b011ed3">indicted last week</a>&nbsp;along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Trump</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-indictment-meadows-guiliani-084efc6796becef3714196cee3854cf6">17 others</a>. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis said they participated in a wide-ranging conspiracy to subvert the will of the voters after the Republican president lost to Democrat Joe Biden in November 2020.Bond for Giuliani, who was released after booking like the other defendants, was set at $150,000, second only to Trump’s $200,000.Giuliani, 79, is accused of spearheading Trump’s efforts to compel state lawmakers in Georgia and other closely contested states to ignore the will of voters and illegally appoint electoral college electors favorable to Trump.Other high-profile defendants also surrendered Wednesday, including Jenna Ellis, an attorney who prosecutors say was involved in efforts to convince state lawmakers to unlawfully appoint presidential electors, and lawyer Sidney Powell, accused of making false statements about the election in Georgia and helping to organize a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-technology-lawsuits-donald-trump-voting-6a1324cc6cf45c95ca086a5c81617b15">breach of voting equipment</a>&nbsp;in rural Coffee County.Georgia was one of several key states Trump lost by slim margins, prompting the Republican and his allies to proclaim, without evidence, that the election was rigged in favor of his Democratic rival Biden.Giuliani is charged with making false statements and soliciting false testimony, conspiring to create phony paperwork and asking state lawmakers to violate their oath of office to appoint an alternate slate of pro-Trump electors.Outside the Fulton County Jail Wednesday afternoon, Giuliani laughed when asked if he regretted allying himself with Trump.“I am very, very honored to be involved in this case because this case is a fight for our way of life," Giuliani told reporters. "This indictment is a travesty. It’s an attack on -- not just me, not just President Trump, not just the people in this indictment, some of whom I don’t even know – this is an attack on the American people."After Giuliani's surrender, Trump repeated his unfounded claims that the election was rigged and stolen and wrote on his social media site, “The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity.”Trump,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2024-presidential-candidates-who-is-running-e89fbfee94e7e7980594a9ce3994fec7">the early front-runner</a>&nbsp;in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, has said he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bond-georgia-election-indictment-79dbb26a14b5a4ccfc1472d6d3eacd2b">plans to turn himself in</a>&nbsp;at the Fulton County Jail on Thursday. He and his allies have characterized the investigation as politically motivated and have heavily criticized District Attorney Willis, a Democrat.Also Wednesday, Willis’ team urged a judge to reject requests from two of the people indicted — former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark — to avoid having to be booked in jail while they fight to move the case to federal court.U.S. District Judge Steve Jones quickly rejected Clark's request. He wrote that until a federal court takes jurisdiction over a case that originates in state court, the state court proceedings continue. No ruling on Meadows' request was immediately available in online court records.Willis has set a deadline of noon on Friday for the people indicted last week in the election subversion case to turn themselves in. Her team has been negotiating bond amounts and conditions with the lawyers for the defendants before they surrender at the jail.Misty Hampton, who was the Coffee County elections director when a breach of election equipment happened there, had her bond set at $10,000. David Shafer, who's a former Georgia Republican Party chair and served as one of 16 fake electors for Trump, and Cathy Latham, who's accused in the Coffee County breach and was also a fake elector, turned themselves in Wednesday morning. Also surrendering Wednesday were lawyers Ray Smith and Kenneth Chesebro, who prosecutors said helped organize the fake electors meeting at the state Capitol in December 2020.Attorney John Eastman, who&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/capitol-siege-biden-elections-government-and-politics-presidential-42911f613bee85913dcbcbaeed096b2c">pushed a plan to keep</a>&nbsp;Trump in power, and Scott Hall, a bail bondsman who was accused of participating in the breach of election equipment in Coffee County,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-georgia-election-indictment-fulton-county-clark-7641b5c61dbcc39ee3f0edbe51558925">turned themselves in</a>&nbsp;Tuesday.The Fulton County Sheriff's Office has said it will release booking photos at 4 p.m. each day, but Shafer&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidShafer/status/1694303972427763731">appeared to post his</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, just after 7 a.m. Wednesday with the message, “Good morning! #NewProfilePicture.”While Republicans in Georgia and elsewhere are calling for Willis to be punished for indicting Trump, a group of Black pastors and community activists gathered outside the state Capitol in Atlanta Wednesday to pray for and proclaim their support for the Democratic prosecutor.Bishop Reginald Jackson, who leads Georgia’s African Methodist Episcopal churches, said that Willis is under attack “as a result of her courage and determination.”Former White House chief of staff Meadows and former Justice Department official Clark are seeking to move their cases from Fulton County Superior Court to federal court. Both argue the actions that gave rise to the charges in the indictment were related to their work as federal officials and that the state charges against them should be dismissed.While those motions are pending, they argue, they should not have to turn themselves in for booking at the Fulton County Jail.In a filing Wednesday, Willis' team argued that Meadows has failed to demonstrate any hardship that would authorize the judge to prevent his arrest. The filing notes that other defendants, including Trump, had agreed to voluntarily surrender by the deadline.In a second filing, Willis' team argued that Clark's effort to halt any Fulton County proceedings while his motion is pending amounts to an attempt “to avoid the inconvenience and unpleasantness of being arrested or subject to the mandatory state criminal process."

'America's Mayor' surrenders in Georgia election meddling case

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/alten-plans-test-run-to-truck-processed-wet-cake-to-landfill-near-bennington/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Hauling away a mountain of contaminated “wet cake” from the controversial AltEn ethanol plant near Mead will soon begin in earnest, officials announced Tuesday.

And the destination for an initial 24,000 tons of the waste seed corn is, as some expected, a landfill near Omaha.

Officials with NewFields, the company hired for the cleanup, said that if an initial “pilot test” of mixing the wet cake with powdery clay and safely hauling it to the Pheasant Point Landfill works, then what’s left of a 16-acre pile of the waste grain — estimated at 115,000 tons — will be shipped there.

The plan is to wrap the processed waste in plastic, described as a “burrito,” to quell dust and odors during the transport.

“We are excited to get this phase of the work started as we work toward a solution for the site and community,” said Don Gunster, an environmental scientist with NewFields.

The AltEn ethanol plant has stirred controversy ever since it was revealed that it was using seed coat coated in hazardous pesticides — instead of typical field corn — to produce ethanol at its plant just south of Mead, a village of 626 people west of Omaha.

Neighbors complained of putrid odors emitted by the plant and expressed concern about health impacts on pets and their families prior to the facility closing in February 2021 because of repeated violations of state environmental rules.

Since then, the focus has been on how to clean up thousands of tons of waste corn left piled around the site and how to safely empty wastewater lagoons that once spilled 4 million gallons of contaminated water into a nearby stream.

Not everyone is excited about the new plans.

State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who got involved in helping concerned citizens in Mead, said it appears that NewFields is “taking the path of least resistance” in “moving the mess from one community to another.”

David Corbin, an official with the Sierra Club of Nebraska, who is among a group of citizens who meet weekly to monitor the cleanup, said he questions whether all the health risks associated with shipping the waste have been considered.

Among his questions: Will contaminated dust, stirred up in removing the wet cake, cause problems? What is the long-term impact of landfilling the seed corn? And might it be harmful to animals?

Residents had&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/25/clean-up-of-alten-site-enters-new-phase-waste-could-be-headed-to-omaha-landfill/">a lot of questions at a meeting</a>&nbsp;about cleanup plans in May. Another town hall meeting in Mead was held Tuesday evening.

An official with WM (formerly Waste Management) which manages the Pheasant Point Landfill for Douglas County, said Tuesday that the landfill has an expected lifespan of 129 years, based on current waste volumes.

Even with the additional volume of the wet cake, which will be mixed with bentonite clay to reduce its moisture and make it easier to handle, the landfill has more than a century before it will be filled up, according to Bill Butler, an Atlanta-based senior engineer/partner in NewFields.

Butler said an earlier pilot project demonstrated that the best way to reduce odors and ease handling of the wet cake is to mix it with the powdery bentonite at the AltEn site to solidify it. Then it would be&nbsp; encased in plastic — like a plastic burrito — for the 24-mile trip to the landfill.

Semi trucks — estimated at about 60 per day — would haul away the waste in trailers covered with canvas tarps, Butler said.

As part of the initial test run, which will extend to Nov. 10, air quality along the route to the landfill will be tested, he said, as will the efficiency of the processing work at the AltEn site.

Butler said if all goes well, the remaining wet cake pile eventually will be processed and hauled to Pheasant Point. Work will be suspended during winter months, when the wet cake freezes, and would be resumed in March.

“We’re not talking a decade to get it done,” he said. “We’ll know more when we complete the pilot test.”

Removal of an estimated 100 million gallons of wastewater from lagoons on the site is also entering a new phase. A new filtration system, designed to remove more contaminants from “fine solids” in the water, just went into service, Butler said.

Last year, 49 million gallons of wastewater was treated, with about 30 million gallons being applied on nearby fields, he said.

In addition,&nbsp;1,500 tons of rubbish, such as pallets and biocharred corn, was hauled away this spring, Butler said.

&nbsp;The process of removing unused seed corn, stored in huge buildings on the site, is also underway.

&nbsp;About 1,000 tons of unused seed corn has been hauled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it was burned and turned into energy, he said. About 6,675 tons are still to be transported to the Covanta facility, a process that may take four to five months, Butler said.

“A heck of a lot of progress has been made,” he said.

In February, after the Examiner reported that thousands of yards of oil-soaked from the Keystone pipeline spill in Kansas were trucked to the Pheasant Point landfill, some Douglas County officials expressed concerns.

Tuesday evening, Douglas County Commissioner Jim Cavanaugh, who was traveling, said he didn’t have enough information about the AltEn plans to comment. He did say that in the case of the oil spill, commissioners had limited powers to determine what could and could not be sent to the landfill.

At that time, WM officials said that the oil-soaked soil was nonhazardous waste and that the Bennington landfill was designed to take such material.

NewFields was hired by a group of seed corn companies that once sent expired seed corn to AltEn. The companies are entirely funding the cleanup.

The NewFields officials said Tuesday they did not know how much has been spent so far. In May, some estimates topped $23 million spent at that point.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692806633756.jpeg" alt="Piles of an estimated 115,000 tons of contaminated waste grain from the closed AltEn ethanol facility await hauling away, to the Douglas County landfill. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Piles of an estimated 115,000 tons of contaminated waste grain from the closed AltEn ethanol facility await hauling away, to the Douglas County landfill. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/22/alten-plans-test-run-to-truck-processed-wet-cake-to-landfill-near-bennington/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Hauling away a mountain of contaminated “wet cake” from the controversial AltEn ethanol plant near Mead will soon begin in earnest, officials announced Tuesday.And the destination for an initial 24,000 tons of the waste seed corn is, as some expected, a landfill near Omaha.Officials with NewFields, the company hired for the cleanup, said that if an initial “pilot test” of mixing the wet cake with powdery clay and safely hauling it to the Pheasant Point Landfill works, then what’s left of a 16-acre pile of the waste grain — estimated at 115,000 tons — will be shipped there.The plan is to wrap the processed waste in plastic, described as a “burrito,” to quell dust and odors during the transport.<h2>‘Solution for site and community’</h2>“We are excited to get this phase of the work started as we work toward a solution for the site and community,” said Don Gunster, an environmental scientist with NewFields.The AltEn ethanol plant has stirred controversy ever since it was revealed that it was using seed coat coated in hazardous pesticides — instead of typical field corn — to produce ethanol at its plant just south of Mead, a village of 626 people west of Omaha.Neighbors complained of putrid odors emitted by the plant and expressed concern about health impacts on pets and their families prior to the facility closing in February 2021 because of repeated violations of state environmental rules.Since then, the focus has been on how to clean up thousands of tons of waste corn left piled around the site and how to safely empty wastewater lagoons that once spilled 4 million gallons of contaminated water into a nearby stream.<h2>‘Path of least resistance”</h2>Not everyone is excited about the new plans.State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who got involved in helping concerned citizens in Mead, said it appears that NewFields is “taking the path of least resistance” in “moving the mess from one community to another.”David Corbin, an official with the Sierra Club of Nebraska, who is among a group of citizens who meet weekly to monitor the cleanup, said he questions whether all the health risks associated with shipping the waste have been considered.Among his questions: Will contaminated dust, stirred up in removing the wet cake, cause problems? What is the long-term impact of landfilling the seed corn? And might it be harmful to animals?Residents had&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/25/clean-up-of-alten-site-enters-new-phase-waste-could-be-headed-to-omaha-landfill/">a lot of questions at a meeting</a>&nbsp;about cleanup plans in May. Another town hall meeting in Mead was held Tuesday evening.An official with WM (formerly Waste Management) which manages the Pheasant Point Landfill for Douglas County, said Tuesday that the landfill has an expected lifespan of 129 years, based on current waste volumes.<h2>Landfill lifespan over a century</h2>Even with the additional volume of the wet cake, which will be mixed with bentonite clay to reduce its moisture and make it easier to handle, the landfill has more than a century before it will be filled up, according to Bill Butler, an Atlanta-based senior engineer/partner in NewFields.Butler said an earlier pilot project demonstrated that the best way to reduce odors and ease handling of the wet cake is to mix it with the powdery bentonite at the AltEn site to solidify it. Then it would be&nbsp; encased in plastic — like a plastic burrito — for the 24-mile trip to the landfill.Semi trucks — estimated at about 60 per day — would haul away the waste in trailers covered with canvas tarps, Butler said.As part of the initial test run, which will extend to Nov. 10, air quality along the route to the landfill will be tested, he said, as will the efficiency of the processing work at the AltEn site.Butler said if all goes well, the remaining wet cake pile eventually will be processed and hauled to Pheasant Point. Work will be suspended during winter months, when the wet cake freezes, and would be resumed in March.“We’re not talking a decade to get it done,” he said. “We’ll know more when we complete the pilot test.”<h2>‘A lot of progress’</h2>Removal of an estimated 100 million gallons of wastewater from lagoons on the site is also entering a new phase. A new filtration system, designed to remove more contaminants from “fine solids” in the water, just went into service, Butler said.Last year, 49 million gallons of wastewater was treated, with about 30 million gallons being applied on nearby fields, he said.In addition,&nbsp;1,500 tons of rubbish, such as pallets and biocharred corn, was hauled away this spring, Butler said.&nbsp;The process of removing unused seed corn, stored in huge buildings on the site, is also underway.&nbsp;About 1,000 tons of unused seed corn has been hauled to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it was burned and turned into energy, he said. About 6,675 tons are still to be transported to the Covanta facility, a process that may take four to five months, Butler said.“A heck of a lot of progress has been made,” he said.In February, after the Examiner reported that thousands of yards of oil-soaked from the Keystone pipeline spill in Kansas were trucked to the Pheasant Point landfill, some Douglas County officials expressed concerns.Tuesday evening, Douglas County Commissioner Jim Cavanaugh, who was traveling, said he didn’t have enough information about the AltEn plans to comment. He did say that in the case of the oil spill, commissioners had limited powers to determine what could and could not be sent to the landfill.At that time, WM officials said that the oil-soaked soil was nonhazardous waste and that the Bennington landfill was designed to take such material.NewFields was hired by a group of seed corn companies that once sent expired seed corn to AltEn. The companies are entirely funding the cleanup.The NewFields officials said Tuesday they did not know how much has been spent so far. In May, some estimates topped $23 million spent at that point.

AltEn plans test run to truck processed "wet cake" to landfill near Bennington

MOSCOW (AP) —Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russia-nuclear-647a545db4e4628676ff7db5b1bded34">brief armed rebellion</a>&nbsp;against the Russian military earlier this year, was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency.

The crash immediately raised suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted the mutiny.

At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as “treason” and a “stab in the back” and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped, and the Wagner chief was allowed to retreat to Belarus, while reportedly popping back in Russia from time to time.

The crash also comes after Russian media reported that a top general linked to Prigozhin was dismissed from his position as commander of the air force.

A plane carrying three pilots and seven passengers that was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg went down more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, according to officials cited by Russia’s state news agency Tass.

Russia’s civilian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, quickly reported that he was on the manifest and later said that, according to airline, he was indeed on board.

Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who also confirmed that Prigozhin was aboard. Prigozhin's top associate, Dmitry Utkin, whose call sign Wagner became the company’s name, was as well, according to Rogov.

“We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no one should be surprised,” said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.

Keir Giles, a Russia expert with the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, had urged caution about reports of Prigozhin’s death. He said “multiple individuals have changed their name to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as part of his efforts to obfuscate his travels.”

“Let’s not be surprised if he pops up shortly in a new video from Africa,” Giles said.

Flight tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press showed a private jet that Prigozhin had used previously took off from Moscow on Wednesday evening and its transponder signal disappeared minutes later.

The signal stopped suddenly while the plane was at altitude and traveling at speed. In an image posted by a pro-Wagner social media account showing burning wreckage, a partial tail number matching a jet previously used by Prigozhin could be seen.

Videos shared by the pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone showed a plane dropping like a stone from a large cloud of smoke, twisting widely as it falls. Such freefalls can occur when an aircraft sustains severe damage, and a frame-by-frame analysis by The AP of two videos were consistent with some sort of explosion mid-flight. The images appeared to show the plane is missing a wing.

Russia’s Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the crash on charges of violating air safety rules, as is typical when they open such probes.

Even if confirmed, Prigozhin’s death is unlikely to have an effect on Russia's war in Ukraine, where his forces fought some of the fiercest battles over the last 18 months.

His troops pulled back from front-line action after capturing Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, in late May. Bakhmut had been the subject of arguably the bloodiest battles in the entire war, with the Russian forces struggling to seize it for months.

After the rebellion, Russian officials said his fighters would only be able to return to Ukraine as part of the regular army.

This week, Prigozhin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russian-mercenaries-prigozhin-africa-c6292738226d03a141d01122adb6fd4b">posted his first recruitment video since the mutiny</a>, saying that Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search activities, and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russia-coup-niger-military-force-e0e1108b58a9e955af465a3efe6605c0">Africa</a>&nbsp;even more free.”

Also this week, Russian media reported, citing anonymous sources, that Gen. Sergei Surovikin was dismissed from his position of the commander of Russia's air force. Surovikin, who at one point led Russia's operation in Ukraine, hasn't been seen in public since the mutiny, when he recorded a video address urging Prigozhin's forces to pull back.

As news of the crash was breaking, Putin spoke at an event commemorating the Battle of Kursk, hailing the heroes of Russia's war in Ukraine.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sept. of 2022&nbsp; via AP" />
 <figcaption>Image from a video released by the Russian Presidential Press Service, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sept. of 2022&nbsp; via AP</figcaption>
 </figure>MOSCOW (AP) —Mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-war-russia-nuclear-647a545db4e4628676ff7db5b1bded34">brief armed rebellion</a>&nbsp;against the Russian military earlier this year, was aboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board, according to Russia’s civil aviation agency.The crash immediately raised suspicions since the fate of the founder of the Wagner private military company has been the subject of intense speculation ever since he mounted the mutiny.At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as “treason” and a “stab in the back” and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped, and the Wagner chief was allowed to retreat to Belarus, while reportedly popping back in Russia from time to time.The crash also comes after Russian media reported that a top general linked to Prigozhin was dismissed from his position as commander of the air force.A plane carrying three pilots and seven passengers that was en route from Moscow to St. Petersburg went down more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the capital, according to officials cited by Russia’s state news agency Tass.Russia’s civilian aviation regulator, Rosaviatsia, quickly reported that he was on the manifest and later said that, according to airline, he was indeed on board.Earlier, Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region in Ukraine, said he talked to Wagner commanders who also confirmed that Prigozhin was aboard. Prigozhin's top associate, Dmitry Utkin, whose call sign Wagner became the company’s name, was as well, according to Rogov.“We have seen the reports. If confirmed, no one should be surprised,” said U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement.Keir Giles, a Russia expert with the international affairs think-tank Chatham House, had urged caution about reports of Prigozhin’s death. He said “multiple individuals have changed their name to Yevgeniy Prigozhin, as part of his efforts to obfuscate his travels.”“Let’s not be surprised if he pops up shortly in a new video from Africa,” Giles said.Flight tracking data reviewed by The Associated Press showed a private jet that Prigozhin had used previously took off from Moscow on Wednesday evening and its transponder signal disappeared minutes later.The signal stopped suddenly while the plane was at altitude and traveling at speed. In an image posted by a pro-Wagner social media account showing burning wreckage, a partial tail number matching a jet previously used by Prigozhin could be seen.Videos shared by the pro-Wagner Telegram channel Grey Zone showed a plane dropping like a stone from a large cloud of smoke, twisting widely as it falls. Such freefalls can occur when an aircraft sustains severe damage, and a frame-by-frame analysis by The AP of two videos were consistent with some sort of explosion mid-flight. The images appeared to show the plane is missing a wing.Russia’s Investigative Committee opened an investigation into the crash on charges of violating air safety rules, as is typical when they open such probes.Even if confirmed, Prigozhin’s death is unlikely to have an effect on Russia's war in Ukraine, where his forces fought some of the fiercest battles over the last 18 months.His troops pulled back from front-line action after capturing Bakhmut, a city in the eastern Donetsk region, in late May. Bakhmut had been the subject of arguably the bloodiest battles in the entire war, with the Russian forces struggling to seize it for months.After the rebellion, Russian officials said his fighters would only be able to return to Ukraine as part of the regular army.This week, Prigozhin&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russian-mercenaries-prigozhin-africa-c6292738226d03a141d01122adb6fd4b">posted his first recruitment video since the mutiny</a>, saying that Wagner is conducting reconnaissance and search activities, and “making Russia even greater on all continents, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/wagner-russia-coup-niger-military-force-e0e1108b58a9e955af465a3efe6605c0">Africa</a>&nbsp;even more free.”Also this week, Russian media reported, citing anonymous sources, that Gen. Sergei Surovikin was dismissed from his position of the commander of Russia's air force. Surovikin, who at one point led Russia's operation in Ukraine, hasn't been seen in public since the mutiny, when he recorded a video address urging Prigozhin's forces to pull back.As news of the crash was breaking, Putin spoke at an event commemorating the Battle of Kursk, hailing the heroes of Russia's war in Ukraine.

Report: Putin foe who staged mutiny dies in plane crash

&nbsp;(CENTRAL CITY, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Central City Police Department, have arrested a Central City man after a child exploitation investigation.

On July 10, NSP performed a search warrant at the residence of 1129 17th Avenue, in Central City. The search of the residence involved a child exploitation investigation.

Monday, Evan Burkhardt, 21, was located at a different residence in Central City and arrested for 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Burkhardt was lodged in Merrick County Jail.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;(CENTRAL CITY, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol Tech Crimes Unit, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Central City Police Department, have arrested a Central City man after a child exploitation investigation.On July 10, NSP performed a search warrant at the residence of 1129 17th Avenue, in Central City. The search of the residence involved a child exploitation investigation.Monday, Evan Burkhardt, 21, was located at a different residence in Central City and arrested for 10 counts of possession of child pornography. Burkhardt was lodged in Merrick County Jail.The investigation remains ongoing.

NSP Arrests Central City Man in Child Exploitation Investigation

By&nbsp;CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — A $5.2 million gift to Creighton University, from a family whose name is known also for growing ConAgra Foods, will create a new scholarship fund to help meet a critical need for Nebraska nursing leaders.

The Harper Family Foundation gift was described as historic based on its size, being one of the largest gifts made to the College of Nursing.

The scholarship program will pay for the bulk of tuition costs for 30 nursing students, from their arrival on Creighton’s campus to graduation day.

“Creighton nurses are leaders who advance quickly at the hospitals and clinics where they practice,” said Catherine Todero, dean of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://degrees.creighton.edu/nursing?program=ABSN&amp;&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;utm_content=Nursing&amp;utm_term=creighton+school+of+nursing&amp;cq_cmp=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwloynBhBbEiwAGY25dEKuKw-DI0S1LT38dWVFwUFUY2F5La_T4zLTjZk8BNYfW89UB34IXhoC8YAQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">College of Nursing</a>. “And now, the Harper Scholars program will help us attract top talent and form even more innovative leaders.”

The scholarship namesakes are the late Charles “Mike” Harper and his wife, Joan “Josie” Bruggema Harper, who moved their family to Omaha in the 1970s when he became the CEO of Conagra. Josie was a nurse.

Creighton is recruiting now for the first cohort of Harper Scholars to begin in the 2024 fall semester.

The scholarship program comes as the nursing college moves to Creighton’s new $75 million CL and Rachel&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alumni.creighton.edu/news-events/news/werner-center-groundbreaking-ceremony-2021">Werner Center</a>&nbsp;for Health Sciences Education, which is set to open next month. There, nursing students are to join medical, physical therapy, pharmacy and other health disciplines in a collaborative learning environment.

University officials said nurses can’t arrive fast enough.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-report-sets-off-alarm-about-nurse-shortage-and-patient-care-in-nebraska/">By 2025,</a>&nbsp;they noted, Nebraska faces an estimated shortage of nearly 5,500 nurses.&nbsp;

The Harper gift will help fund a leadership program led by faculty, a senior trip at the Institute for Latin American Concern in the Dominican Republic, and a research and travel fund. The funds also create a program director position to oversee programming and clinical and research placement.

The Harpers have long supported the city of Omaha and Creighton, a news release said. The family established a freshman leadership scholarship and a scholarship that paid tribute to a former Creighton president, the Rev. Timothy Lannon.&nbsp;

The Harpers endowed professorships, and are the namesakes of the Mike and Josie Harper Center at the Creighton&nbsp; campus.

Betsy and Chris Murphy, Harper Family Foundation trustees who also are the Harpers’ daughter and son-in-law, said they wanted the foundation’s next project to be significant and impactful. “Because one of the guiding principles of Mike Harper was a focus on ‘the cannonball.’ Not a lot of little things but one&nbsp;big&nbsp;thing that can make a difference to the mission of the organization,” said Chris Murphy.

“Our hope is that for nursing students around the country, this scholarship will be&nbsp;the&nbsp;scholarship to go for,” Murphy said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692804853640.png" alt="Nursing students at Creighton University (Courtesy of Creighton University)" />
 <figcaption>Nursing students at Creighton University (Courtesy of Creighton University)</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;CINDY GONZALEZ <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/woman-who-shouted-shame-following-critical-gun-bill-passage-is-banned-from-nebraska-capitol/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — A $5.2 million gift to Creighton University, from a family whose name is known also for growing ConAgra Foods, will create a new scholarship fund to help meet a critical need for Nebraska nursing leaders.The Harper Family Foundation gift was described as historic based on its size, being one of the largest gifts made to the College of Nursing.The scholarship program will pay for the bulk of tuition costs for 30 nursing students, from their arrival on Creighton’s campus to graduation day.“Creighton nurses are leaders who advance quickly at the hospitals and clinics where they practice,” said Catherine Todero, dean of the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://degrees.creighton.edu/nursing?program=ABSN&amp;&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;utm_content=Nursing&amp;utm_term=creighton+school+of+nursing&amp;cq_cmp=CTN_G01001_Grad_ABSN_OM&amp;gad=1&amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwloynBhBbEiwAGY25dEKuKw-DI0S1LT38dWVFwUFUY2F5La_T4zLTjZk8BNYfW89UB34IXhoC8YAQAvD_BwE&amp;gclsrc=aw.ds">College of Nursing</a>. “And now, the Harper Scholars program will help us attract top talent and form even more innovative leaders.”The scholarship namesakes are the late Charles “Mike” Harper and his wife, Joan “Josie” Bruggema Harper, who moved their family to Omaha in the 1970s when he became the CEO of Conagra. Josie was a nurse.Creighton is recruiting now for the first cohort of Harper Scholars to begin in the 2024 fall semester.The scholarship program comes as the nursing college moves to Creighton’s new $75 million CL and Rachel&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://alumni.creighton.edu/news-events/news/werner-center-groundbreaking-ceremony-2021">Werner Center</a>&nbsp;for Health Sciences Education, which is set to open next month. There, nursing students are to join medical, physical therapy, pharmacy and other health disciplines in a collaborative learning environment.University officials said nurses can’t arrive fast enough.&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/new-report-sets-off-alarm-about-nurse-shortage-and-patient-care-in-nebraska/">By 2025,</a>&nbsp;they noted, Nebraska faces an estimated shortage of nearly 5,500 nurses.&nbsp;The Harper gift will help fund a leadership program led by faculty, a senior trip at the Institute for Latin American Concern in the Dominican Republic, and a research and travel fund. The funds also create a program director position to oversee programming and clinical and research placement.The Harpers have long supported the city of Omaha and Creighton, a news release said. The family established a freshman leadership scholarship and a scholarship that paid tribute to a former Creighton president, the Rev. Timothy Lannon.&nbsp;The Harpers endowed professorships, and are the namesakes of the Mike and Josie Harper Center at the Creighton&nbsp; campus.Betsy and Chris Murphy, Harper Family Foundation trustees who also are the Harpers’ daughter and son-in-law, said they wanted the foundation’s next project to be significant and impactful. “Because one of the guiding principles of Mike Harper was a focus on ‘the cannonball.’ Not a lot of little things but one&nbsp;big&nbsp;thing that can make a difference to the mission of the organization,” said Chris Murphy.“Our hope is that for nursing students around the country, this scholarship will be&nbsp;the&nbsp;scholarship to go for,” Murphy said.

‘Historic’ gift to Creighton University aims to help nursing shortage

Omaha – National Grief Awareness Day is August 30, a good time to discuss the ways dementia caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s can experience this emotion.

Grief is associated with loss, such as a person passing away, but it’s normal to experience grief and its stages while a person is living with the disease. Feelings of grief prior to loss are called “anticipatory grief,” as we prepare for and think about what’s to come. It can help to acknowledge your feelings and get support to deal with them.

In the 1960s, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified<a href="https://www.ekrfoundation.org/5-stages-of-grief/on-death-and-dying/"> five stages of grief</a>—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These can make it easier to recognize your own experience of grief and the different ways it can manifest.

●&nbsp; 	You might deny that you or your loved one has Alzheimer’s or other dementia, refuse to believe a diagnosis, or expect recovery. Another form of denial can be to ignore the onset or worsening of symptoms.

●&nbsp; 	Some people feel frustrated and angry that they got the disease and aren’t able to do everything they did before. And caregivers can experience resentment or feelings of abandonment when thinking about their responsibilities, especially if others aren’t pitching in.

●&nbsp; 	For caregivers of people in later-stages of dementia, bargaining may involve the hope that your loved ones’ struggle will end. This can lead to feelings of guilt that you didn’t do enough or even that you look forward to the things you enjoyed before becoming a caregiver. It can also involve regret about aspects of your relationship with your loved one.

●&nbsp; 	Depression and sadness are both common feelings when you’re grieving. You may be mourning someone who has passed away or the relationships and life you had before dementia. Keep in mind that sadness can look different for everyone. Some people may withhold feelings, shut down, or withdraw from activities. Others may become more open with emotions and ask for more time to connect. Both are normal responses.

●&nbsp; 	Acceptance can take time. It involves understanding your emotions and how grief is affecting you, while learning to live with the good and bad days. Finding humor or moments of joy in difficult situations can also be acceptance.

The stages of grief don’t always happen in order. You might not experience all of them and they may feel different for you.

Being able to live with grief starts with understanding that it is normal and necessary. Let yourself feel whatever emotions and thoughts—positive or negative—come up without judgment. If you are overwhelmed by your feelings, find a healthy outlet for them. This can involve talking to a healthcare professional or trusted friend or counselor, keeping a journal, or even taking a walk.

Accept that your grief is unique to you and your situation. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and no time frame for your feelings. For caregivers,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8392352/"> research suggests</a> that becoming educated about dementia, having support, and being organized about care planning can make grief easier to manage, especially anticipatory grief. It’s also important to make time for things you enjoy. You might also seek out people who understand and can empathize, such as a support group.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers a free 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900. You don’t need a specific reason to call other than needing to talk. The Association also offers online and in-person support groups and free care consultations, which can include strategies to process grief and take care of yourself. To learn more, visit<a href="https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/caregiver-health/grief-loss-as-alzheimers-progresses"> alz.org</a>.&nbsp;

Alzheimer 's AssociationOmaha – National Grief Awareness Day is August 30, a good time to discuss the ways dementia caregivers and those living with Alzheimer’s can experience this emotion.Grief is associated with loss, such as a person passing away, but it’s normal to experience grief and its stages while a person is living with the disease. Feelings of grief prior to loss are called “anticipatory grief,” as we prepare for and think about what’s to come. It can help to acknowledge your feelings and get support to deal with them.Stages and Experiences of GriefIn the 1960s, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross identified<a href="https://www.ekrfoundation.org/5-stages-of-grief/on-death-and-dying/"> five stages of grief</a>—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These can make it easier to recognize your own experience of grief and the different ways it can manifest.●&nbsp; 	You might deny that you or your loved one has Alzheimer’s or other dementia, refuse to believe a diagnosis, or expect recovery. Another form of denial can be to ignore the onset or worsening of symptoms.●&nbsp; 	Some people feel frustrated and angry that they got the disease and aren’t able to do everything they did before. And caregivers can experience resentment or feelings of abandonment when thinking about their responsibilities, especially if others aren’t pitching in.●&nbsp; 	For caregivers of people in later-stages of dementia, bargaining may involve the hope that your loved ones’ struggle will end. This can lead to feelings of guilt that you didn’t do enough or even that you look forward to the things you enjoyed before becoming a caregiver. It can also involve regret about aspects of your relationship with your loved one.●&nbsp; 	Depression and sadness are both common feelings when you’re grieving. You may be mourning someone who has passed away or the relationships and life you had before dementia. Keep in mind that sadness can look different for everyone. Some people may withhold feelings, shut down, or withdraw from activities. Others may become more open with emotions and ask for more time to connect. Both are normal responses.●&nbsp; 	Acceptance can take time. It involves understanding your emotions and how grief is affecting you, while learning to live with the good and bad days. Finding humor or moments of joy in difficult situations can also be acceptance.The stages of grief don’t always happen in order. You might not experience all of them and they may feel different for you.Moving Through GriefBeing able to live with grief starts with understanding that it is normal and necessary. Let yourself feel whatever emotions and thoughts—positive or negative—come up without judgment. If you are overwhelmed by your feelings, find a healthy outlet for them. This can involve talking to a healthcare professional or trusted friend or counselor, keeping a journal, or even taking a walk.Accept that your grief is unique to you and your situation. There is no right or wrong way to grieve and no time frame for your feelings. For caregivers,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8392352/"> research suggests</a> that becoming educated about dementia, having support, and being organized about care planning can make grief easier to manage, especially anticipatory grief. It’s also important to make time for things you enjoy. You might also seek out people who understand and can empathize, such as a support group.The Alzheimer’s Association offers a free 24/7 Helpline at 800.272.3900. You don’t need a specific reason to call other than needing to talk. The Association also offers online and in-person support groups and free care consultations, which can include strategies to process grief and take care of yourself. To learn more, visit<a href="https://www.alz.org/help-support/caregiving/caregiver-health/grief-loss-as-alzheimers-progresses"> alz.org</a>.&nbsp;

Managing Grief with Dementia

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night

&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.

Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.

A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>

The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.

In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”

The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.

Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692739004740.png" alt="Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Eight presidential candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s 2024 presidential primary so far. Former President Donald Trump won’t participate Wednesday night&nbsp;More than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-supreme-court-decision-854f60302f21c2c35129e58cf8d8a7b0">overturned the federal right to abortion</a>, the issue has at times dominated the discussion among the Republicans seeking their party's 2024 presidential nomination and is sure to be on display during the debate Wednesday in Milwaukee.Some of the division among the candidates has come over whether there should be a national ban on the practice — and after how many weeks — now that the justices have returned specific debate over abortion legality to the states.A look at how the issue of abortion is playing out among Republican and Democratic candidates:REPUBLICANS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">DONALD TRUMP</a>The former president, the current GOP front-runner, has often&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-trump-2024-president-desantis-pence-scott-e9f3a4287aa556a36f967cf45525493d">sidestepped the issue of abortion</a>, even as Republicans across the country have celebrated the Supreme Court's decision.In April, a major anti-abortion group assailed Trump on the issue, saying his contention that abortion restrictions should be left up to individual states, not the federal government, is a “morally indefensible position for a self-proclaimed pro-life presidential candidate.”The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group has said it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-politics-south-carolina-state-government-us-republican-party-2022-midterm-elections-e12dcf419bc5272063a847436f9a237c">would not support any White House candidate</a>&nbsp;who did not at a minimum support a 15-week federal abortion ban.Trump, who has referred to himself as “the most pro-life president in American history, has pointed to his successful nomination of three conservatives justices, a move that tilted the court to the conservative majority that overturned Roe v. Wade. Earlier this year, he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-donald-trump-abortion-florida-d536c67609030a445cab60329b919e75">characterized as “too harsh”</a>&nbsp;a measure signed into law by fellow contender Gov. Ron DeSantis that would ban abortions in Florida after six weeks of pregnancy.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-2024-presidential-election-live-updates-0495d567326db1e760179d01f1f7c45e">RON DESANTIS</a>While DeSantis has been governor, Florida passed an abortion ban after six weeks of pregnancy. But DeSantis, who says he is “pro-life,” has suggested that individual states should decide the issue, adding in a recent interview that he is “running on doing things that I know I can accomplish.”Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized DeSantis for not supporting a national ban on the procedure,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/republicans-abortion-desantis-2024-154bed7a8b78872e341413339b452db0">calling DeSantis' position “unacceptable”</a>&nbsp;as he runs for president.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-iowa-launch-2024-republican-presidential-campaign-faa2082d8d3269dc73a28c893188c2ff">MIKE PENCE</a>The former vice president supports a federal ban on abortion at six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.And he has advocated pulling from the market one of two widely used abortion pills — a medication with a better safety record than Viagra and penicillin. Sensing that such a position may be viewed as too extreme in a general election, no other major presidential candidate has joined his calls.In a recent Associated Press interview, Pence went even further, saying abortion should be banned, even when a pregnancy is deemed nonviable. Such a standard would&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-law-lawsuit-6346a3b98dd3ece069177f88172ce7b8">force women to carry pregnancies to term</a>&nbsp;even when doctors have determined there is no chance a baby will survive outside the womb.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/pence-trump-desantis-abortion-supreme-court-3b1937a4faf327b96ded2afed064a988">Earlier this month</a>&nbsp;while touring the Iowa State Fair, Pence said he was expecting to use the debate as an opportunity to call out Trump and DeSantis for not insisting on a national abortion ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tim-scott-2024-presidential-race-4a73e00db2295afbc4b07d1c6bb64811">TIM SCOTT</a>The South Carolina senator has long voiced his opposition to abortion, pledging that as president “I would sign the most conservative pro-life legislation you can bring to my desk.”He has signaled support for a federal ban on the practice for as early as 12 weeks and also support for a bill sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., that would ban abortions nationally after 15 weeks.In 2021, Scott also co-sponsored legislation that would have established a constitutional right to life from “the moment of fertilization.”<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-2024-presidential-campaign-formal-launch-bb059ae113e39152f5007864b4d139ae">NIKKI HALEY</a>Haley, the sole woman in the GOP field, pledged in May that she would sign a federal abortion ban if elected president.But Haley has not specified a time frame for after how many weeks she feels abortion should be outlawed, noting that passing such a measure would be highly unlikely without more Republicans in Congress, and advocating for “consensus” around the issue. She’s said she would “absolutely” sign a 15-week federal ban.The former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said “no one has been honest” about how difficult a ban could be to achieve, in a closely divided federal government.Haley campaign spokesman Ken Farnaso said in June that she would "sign pro-life legislation that includes exceptions for rape, incest, and for the life of the mother,” suggesting she may be opposed to an exception for non-viable pregnancies — but declining to clarify.As governor, Haley signed an abortion ban after about 20 weeks. That law is still in effect while a six-week ban, passed by state lawmakers, is held up in the courts.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/religion-and-politics-united-states-government-2022-midterm-elections-ohio-e1c1cbe47763bd979b6b47557aee043d">VIVEK RAMASWAMY</a>The wealthy biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.” has said he would not support a federal ban on abortion because ”the federal government should stay out of it.” He has voiced support for states that have passed six-week bans.Like some other hopefuls, he has pushed for more policies that encourage adoption and better child care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/christie-2024-president-b9949e97e604719c341d652cc62f9d50">CHRIS CHRISTIE</a>The former two-term New Jersey governor has argued that the issue of abortion should be carried out in the states, not at the federal level.In a CNN town hall, Christie said that “the federal government should not be involved unless and until there’s a consensus around the country from the 50 states making their own decisions about what it should be.”Seeking local office in the 1990s, Christie identified himself as “pro-choice,” saying he changed his position after hearing his daughter’s heartbeat at 13 weeks.As governor, he vetoed millions in state funding for Planned Parenthood and other family planning clinics. Before the Supreme Court's decision that overturned Roe, Christie joined Dannenfelser in meetings other GOP governors to discuss the issue and how it might play out at the state level.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/asa-hutchinson-presidential-campaign-2024-3a04fdae989505d850545836bd0c16b0">ASA HUTCHINSON</a>The former two-term Arkansas governor has said the issue of abortion should stay in the states without a Republican supermajority in Congress.As governor in 2021, Hutchinson signed a near-total ban on abortions that did not include rape and incest exceptions.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/doug-burgum-north-dakota-president-1b187576423968c422d2adbd70c9b3dc">DOUG BURGUM</a>In April, the two-term North Dakota governor signed one of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the country. The measure would allow abortions up to six weeks' gestation in cases of rape or incest, or medical emergencies. After that marker, no exceptions aside from some medical emergencies, such as ectopic pregnancies, are allowed at any stage of pregnancy.Burgum has mostly said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and has indicated he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/larry-elder-2024-election-a50db206b9c7b981639c05f4f59ae289">LARRY ELDER</a>The conservative talk radio host opposes abortion but has said he would not support a federal ban.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">PERRY JOHNSON</a>The businessman describes himself as “pro-life.” When he ran for Michigan governor in 2022, Johnson told reporters “two wrongs don't make a right” when asked if he would rule out banning abortion in cases of sexual assault.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/francis-suarez-miami-2024-presidential-race-ea46292142dfac98567f6745de69358a">FRANCIS SUAREZ</a>The Miami mayor has said that he would support a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, with some exceptions, including rape, incest and the mother's health.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/will-hurd-2024-republican-presidential-primary-710f6f0d4bb6cc1f5046e20ed17ef602">WILL HURD</a>The former Texas congressman has said he would sign a 15-week federal abortion ban, although he has said that he doesn't see it as realistic that Congress would pass such a measure.While in the House, Hurd twice voted in favor of a 20-week ban.DEMOCRATS <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-election-2024-president-democrats-trump-9c72115656855da89a41cac3f79aa65b">JOE BIDEN</a>The president supports abortion access and has said he would veto a national ban on the practice. As a senator, Biden supported abortion restrictions like the 1976 Hyde Amendment — which states that Medicaid won’t pay for abortions unless the woman’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest — but said during the 2020 campaign he had shifted course.The aftermath of last year's Supreme Court ruling has framed much of Biden's presidency on abortion. He signed an executive order designed to strengthen and promote access to contraception.Mounting a rallying cry to 2022 midterms voters to seat more Democratic lawmakers who could possibly codify abortion access nationally, Biden has also directed his administration to take steps to protect access to abortion care. This includes making mifepristone — one of two pills used in medication abortions — easier to obtain, and ensuring members of the military can access reproductive health care.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kennedy-biden-president-2024-democrat-dd9d6ecf17b54f4b32e7b17778540431">ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR.</a>The author and environmental lawyer has spoken in favor of “bodily autonomy” and describes himself as “pro-choice.”A nephew of President John F. Kennedy and son of Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, he has also said “it’s a woman’s choice, and it’s solely up to the woman” in terms of how a pregnancy should be handled in its first trimester.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/marianne-williamson-president-2024-biden-democratic-primary-14e59754bed9e0c54dad4fdfbbc1fa6b">MARIANNE WILLIAMSON</a>The self-help author's campaign website describes her as “one hundred percent pro-choice.” Williamson has also noted that she believes the decision to have an abortion or not “lies solely with a pregnant woman, according to the dictates of her conscience and in communion with the God of her understanding.”___