<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/19/judge-takes-under-advisement-a-request-to-block-enforcement-of-nebraskas-new-abortion-ban/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska’s new law that bans abortion at 12 weeks gestational age remains in effect after a judge on Wednesday said she would take under advisement a request to block its enforcement.

Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret said she would issue a written ruling later on a request by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland to place a preliminary injunction on Legislative Bill 574 due to its detrimental impact on abortion providers and medical care.

Maret heard about an hour of oral arguments from Planned Parenthood attorneys and a lawyer from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, which has asked that the lawsuit filed by the abortion rights group be dismissed and the injunction request rejected.

Attorneys representing Planned Parenthood and Dr. Sarah Traxler, the medical director for the organization, argued Wednesday that LB 574&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">violates the Nebraska Constitution’s restriction</a>&nbsp;that legislation contain&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/10/could-single-subject-rule-trip-up-merger-of-abortion-and-anti-trans-bills/">only a single subject</a>.

“This is probably one of the gravest violations of the single subject rule that the court has seen in a very long time,” argued Matthew Segal, a Boston-based attorney with the ACLU.

His clients have asked for a temporary injunction blocking the implementation of the abortion ban, which went into effect when Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/22/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-signs-abortion-gender-care-restrictions-into-law/#:~:text=LINCOLN%20%E2%80%94%20Nebraska%20Gov.,fight%20until%20the%20very%20end.&amp;text=Legislative%20Bill%20574%2C%20proposed%20by,the%20final%20round%20of%20debate.">signed it into law</a>&nbsp;May 22.&nbsp; (The portion that bans gender-affirming care doesn’t go into effect until October.)

Jane Seu, an attorney with the ACLU of Nebraska, argued Wednesday that Planned Parenthood physicians faced “ongoing, severe hardship” because the new law restricted their ability to provide the best “standard of care.”

It also has forced those seeking an abortion to go out of state, “against their will,” she said.

Segal, the ACLU attorney, argued that anyone looking at LB 574 would conclude that it’s a “jamming together” of two very different subjects: abortion rights and gender-affirming procedures.

It was done, he added, to make sure both measures passed, raising concerns about “log rolling” — the amending of subjects into a bill to increase support for it.

Would be ‘impossible’ to violate rule

Segal argued that under the state’s arguments, it would impossible to violate the single subject rule.

In opposing the temporary injunction request and seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has maintained that LB 574 “firmly withstands” questions about its constitutionality because the two matters both deal with public health and welfare.

Assistant Attorney General Erik Fern, who defended the new law, questioned whether Planned Parenthood and doctors who provide abortions had the right to bring a lawsuit, arguing that physicians have “no vested right” to practice medicine as they please.

He added that the harm to the unborn and minor children that the bill tries to protect outweighs any “economic” harm done to Planned Parenthood.

‘Strong presumption’ that laws are legal

In a legal brief filed Tuesday, Fern added that it’s irrelevant how LB 574 got passed and that the court needs only to consider “the end result.”

On Wednesday, Fern added that there’s a “strong presumption” that any legislation passed by the State Legislature is both “legal and enforceable” and for the judge to interject herself into the case of LB 547 goes “into the internal process of how the Nebraska Unicameral has decided it will conduct its business.”

Segal, citing past court rulings, said that a bill must contain&nbsp;subjects that are “naturally connected and incidental to each other.”

“Even using the most lenient test, they are not incidental to each other,” Segal said.

Debate over LB 574 dominated the 2023 session of the Nebraska Legislature, prompting two Omaha state senators, Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt, to filibuster nearly every bill up for floor debate.

They argued that the ban on gender-affirming care was hateful and that government should stay out of sensitive and personal family decisions about ending a pregnancy or seeking care for their children.

Advocates for LB 574, led by Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, said that the measure is about protecting children and preserving life.

After a proposed six-week abortion ban failed to advance in the Legislature, Ralston Sen. Merv&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/15/nebraska-state-senator-proposes-12-week-abortion-ban-instead-of-cardiac-activity-ban/">Riepe proposed a compromise</a>&nbsp;measure, the 12-week ban.

That proposal was merged into LB 574, which banned gender-affirming treatments for minors, in an effort to get both measures passed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689872897482.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Danielle Conrad (center) speaks at a rally of abortion rights earlier this year in the State Capitol Rotunda. Nebraskans, she said, don’t want additional restrictions on abortion. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Danielle Conrad (center) speaks at a rally of abortion rights earlier this year in the State Capitol Rotunda. Nebraskans, she said, don’t want additional restrictions on abortion. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/19/judge-takes-under-advisement-a-request-to-block-enforcement-of-nebraskas-new-abortion-ban/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska’s new law that bans abortion at 12 weeks gestational age remains in effect after a judge on Wednesday said she would take under advisement a request to block its enforcement.Lancaster County District Judge Lori Maret said she would issue a written ruling later on a request by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland to place a preliminary injunction on Legislative Bill 574 due to its detrimental impact on abortion providers and medical care.Maret heard about an hour of oral arguments from Planned Parenthood attorneys and a lawyer from the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office, which has asked that the lawsuit filed by the abortion rights group be dismissed and the injunction request rejected.<h2>‘One of gravest violations’</h2>Attorneys representing Planned Parenthood and Dr. Sarah Traxler, the medical director for the organization, argued Wednesday that LB 574&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">violates the Nebraska Constitution’s restriction</a>&nbsp;that legislation contain&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/10/could-single-subject-rule-trip-up-merger-of-abortion-and-anti-trans-bills/">only a single subject</a>.“This is probably one of the gravest violations of the single subject rule that the court has seen in a very long time,” argued Matthew Segal, a Boston-based attorney with the ACLU.His clients have asked for a temporary injunction blocking the implementation of the abortion ban, which went into effect when Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/22/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-signs-abortion-gender-care-restrictions-into-law/#:~:text=LINCOLN%20%E2%80%94%20Nebraska%20Gov.,fight%20until%20the%20very%20end.&amp;text=Legislative%20Bill%20574%2C%20proposed%20by,the%20final%20round%20of%20debate.">signed it into law</a>&nbsp;May 22.&nbsp; (The portion that bans gender-affirming care doesn’t go into effect until October.)Jane Seu, an attorney with the ACLU of Nebraska, argued Wednesday that Planned Parenthood physicians faced “ongoing, severe hardship” because the new law restricted their ability to provide the best “standard of care.”It also has forced those seeking an abortion to go out of state, “against their will,” she said.Segal, the ACLU attorney, argued that anyone looking at LB 574 would conclude that it’s a “jamming together” of two very different subjects: abortion rights and gender-affirming procedures.It was done, he added, to make sure both measures passed, raising concerns about “log rolling” — the amending of subjects into a bill to increase support for it.<h2>Would be ‘impossible’ to violate rule</h2>Segal argued that under the state’s arguments, it would impossible to violate the single subject rule.In opposing the temporary injunction request and seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed, the Nebraska Attorney General’s Office has maintained that LB 574 “firmly withstands” questions about its constitutionality because the two matters both deal with public health and welfare.Assistant Attorney General Erik Fern, who defended the new law, questioned whether Planned Parenthood and doctors who provide abortions had the right to bring a lawsuit, arguing that physicians have “no vested right” to practice medicine as they please.He added that the harm to the unborn and minor children that the bill tries to protect outweighs any “economic” harm done to Planned Parenthood.<h2>‘Strong presumption’ that laws are legal</h2>In a legal brief filed Tuesday, Fern added that it’s irrelevant how LB 574 got passed and that the court needs only to consider “the end result.”On Wednesday, Fern added that there’s a “strong presumption” that any legislation passed by the State Legislature is both “legal and enforceable” and for the judge to interject herself into the case of LB 547 goes “into the internal process of how the Nebraska Unicameral has decided it will conduct its business.”Segal, citing past court rulings, said that a bill must contain&nbsp;subjects that are “naturally connected and incidental to each other.”“Even using the most lenient test, they are not incidental to each other,” Segal said.Debate over LB 574 dominated the 2023 session of the Nebraska Legislature, prompting two Omaha state senators, Machaela Cavanaugh and Megan Hunt, to filibuster nearly every bill up for floor debate.They argued that the ban on gender-affirming care was hateful and that government should stay out of sensitive and personal family decisions about ending a pregnancy or seeking care for their children.Advocates for LB 574, led by Sens. Joni Albrecht of Thurston and Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, said that the measure is about protecting children and preserving life.After a proposed six-week abortion ban failed to advance in the Legislature, Ralston Sen. Merv&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/15/nebraska-state-senator-proposes-12-week-abortion-ban-instead-of-cardiac-activity-ban/">Riepe proposed a compromise</a>&nbsp;measure, the 12-week ban.That proposal was merged into LB 574, which banned gender-affirming treatments for minors, in an effort to get both measures passed.

Judge takes under advisement a request to block enforcement of new Nebraska abortion ban

Attacks are a diversionary tactic from the real issue:&nbsp;&nbsp;

LB753 diverts public tax dollars to private schools and will hurt our public schools.&nbsp;

July 20, 2023 -- Politicians and privateers are continuing to attack public school advocates who are gathering signatures to keep public tax dollars from being diverted to private schools. The petition effort is being led by Support Our Schools Nebraska, a coalition of Nebraska not-for-profit organizations that believe voters should have the opportunity to choose whether LB753, a controversial school privatization bill that will divert as much as $100 million per year to private schools, remains law.&nbsp;

An opposition group funded primarily by Betsy DeVos has resorted to hiring “blockers” that spread misinformation and intimidate and harass petition circulators in an attempt to prohibit voters from having a say on whether they want to divert public tax dollars to private schools through LB753’s tax credit scheme, a policy some experts say may be in violation of the Nebraska State Constitution.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Opponents can’t win this argument on the merits, so they take events out of context, selectively edit surreptitiously taken videos and harass people who are trying to support their local public schools. As to the accusations of misinformation and lying, I’ll take this opportunity to remind these privateers that just because we don’t agree with you does not mean we are lying,” said Jenni Benson, a sponsor of Support Our Schools Nebraska.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In a video provided by petition opponents, Clarice Jackson, a political activist who ran unsuccessfully for the legislature as a supporter of giving public funds to private schools, badgers a young Support Our Schools Nebraska circulator with a litany of questions designed to confuse her. The young woman, who was on her first day of collecting signatures, was shaken by the encounter with Jackson and has since been removed from the team of petition circulators.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As required by law, the circulator read the petition’s Object Statement to Jackson. This language clearly states the goal of the petition is to repeal LB753, which provides tax credits to corporations and individuals for making financial contributions to organizations that give students money to attend private schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Support Our Schools Nebraska will continue to train circulators to act in accordance with the law and not to engage with bad-faith “blockers.”&nbsp;

“Nebraska voters should have the opportunity to have their voices heard,” said Dunixi Guereca, Stand for Schools Executive Director. “Statewide polling is consistent and clear on this: Nebraskans support public education and do not believe in tax schemes that will benefit a select few while decimating and de-funding the neighborhood schools that serve nine out of ten kids in Nebraska.”&nbsp;

Scholarship tax credits will impact both rural and urban communities. More than half of Nebraska’s 93 counties do not have a private school, and, across the state, chronically underfunded public school districts are facing additional constraints on their ability to raise revenue, unprecedented staff shortages, and growing student needs.&nbsp;

The concerns about LB753 remaining law are many. Beyond its fiscal impact, opponents are wary of the policy’s impact on students, families, and teachers. Representatives of Support Our Schools Nebraska say LB753 lacks necessary transparency and accountability requirements, which are especially important given that private schools are allowed to discriminate in ways public schools are not.&nbsp;

LB753 fails to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Free and Appropriate Public Education, and doesn’t have a Zero Reject Policy. Without these critical civil rights protections, students with disabilities will be left without protection.&nbsp;

“LB753 does not help all children. In fact, it even subsidizes discriminatory practices. Unlike public schools, whose doors are open to all, private schools can discriminate against kids. Taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars should not be used to support private schools that are not required to serve all children. Further, there is little evidence that these private school tax voucher programs improve educational outcomes, and numerous studies have even found negative effects in various subject areas,” said Benson.&nbsp;

“This bill is not about providing scholarships to low-income students. Anyone can donate to a nonprofit organization to provide scholarships. That option has always been available, and those donations are treated the same as all other charitable donations in the state. LB753 is about directing money that would otherwise be available for use by the state to private schools,” said Guereca.&nbsp;

Support Our Schools Nebraska will continue to circulate petitions in communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For more information, including dates and locations where you can find a petition to sign, please visit:<a href="http://supportourschools.org"> https://supportourschoolsnebraska.org/&nbsp;</a>

Attacks are a diversionary tactic from the real issue:&nbsp;&nbsp;LB753 diverts public tax dollars to private schools and will hurt our public schools.&nbsp;July 20, 2023 -- Politicians and privateers are continuing to attack public school advocates who are gathering signatures to keep public tax dollars from being diverted to private schools. The petition effort is being led by Support Our Schools Nebraska, a coalition of Nebraska not-for-profit organizations that believe voters should have the opportunity to choose whether LB753, a controversial school privatization bill that will divert as much as $100 million per year to private schools, remains law.&nbsp;An opposition group funded primarily by Betsy DeVos has resorted to hiring “blockers” that spread misinformation and intimidate and harass petition circulators in an attempt to prohibit voters from having a say on whether they want to divert public tax dollars to private schools through LB753’s tax credit scheme, a policy some experts say may be in violation of the Nebraska State Constitution.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Opponents can’t win this argument on the merits, so they take events out of context, selectively edit surreptitiously taken videos and harass people who are trying to support their local public schools. As to the accusations of misinformation and lying, I’ll take this opportunity to remind these privateers that just because we don’t agree with you does not mean we are lying,” said Jenni Benson, a sponsor of Support Our Schools Nebraska.&nbsp;&nbsp;In a video provided by petition opponents, Clarice Jackson, a political activist who ran unsuccessfully for the legislature as a supporter of giving public funds to private schools, badgers a young Support Our Schools Nebraska circulator with a litany of questions designed to confuse her. The young woman, who was on her first day of collecting signatures, was shaken by the encounter with Jackson and has since been removed from the team of petition circulators.&nbsp;&nbsp;As required by law, the circulator read the petition’s Object Statement to Jackson. This language clearly states the goal of the petition is to repeal LB753, which provides tax credits to corporations and individuals for making financial contributions to organizations that give students money to attend private schools.&nbsp;&nbsp;Support Our Schools Nebraska will continue to train circulators to act in accordance with the law and not to engage with bad-faith “blockers.”&nbsp;“Nebraska voters should have the opportunity to have their voices heard,” said Dunixi Guereca, Stand for Schools Executive Director. “Statewide polling is consistent and clear on this: Nebraskans support public education and do not believe in tax schemes that will benefit a select few while decimating and de-funding the neighborhood schools that serve nine out of ten kids in Nebraska.”&nbsp;Scholarship tax credits will impact both rural and urban communities. More than half of Nebraska’s 93 counties do not have a private school, and, across the state, chronically underfunded public school districts are facing additional constraints on their ability to raise revenue, unprecedented staff shortages, and growing student needs.&nbsp;The concerns about LB753 remaining law are many. Beyond its fiscal impact, opponents are wary of the policy’s impact on students, families, and teachers. Representatives of Support Our Schools Nebraska say LB753 lacks necessary transparency and accountability requirements, which are especially important given that private schools are allowed to discriminate in ways public schools are not.&nbsp;LB753 fails to comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Free and Appropriate Public Education, and doesn’t have a Zero Reject Policy. Without these critical civil rights protections, students with disabilities will be left without protection.&nbsp;“LB753 does not help all children. In fact, it even subsidizes discriminatory practices. Unlike public schools, whose doors are open to all, private schools can discriminate against kids. Taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars should not be used to support private schools that are not required to serve all children. Further, there is little evidence that these private school tax voucher programs improve educational outcomes, and numerous studies have even found negative effects in various subject areas,” said Benson.&nbsp;“This bill is not about providing scholarships to low-income students. Anyone can donate to a nonprofit organization to provide scholarships. That option has always been available, and those donations are treated the same as all other charitable donations in the state. LB753 is about directing money that would otherwise be available for use by the state to private schools,” said Guereca.&nbsp;Support Our Schools Nebraska will continue to circulate petitions in communities across the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, including dates and locations where you can find a petition to sign, please visit:<a href="http://supportourschools.org"> https://supportourschoolsnebraska.org/&nbsp;</a>

Coalition Says Attacking Nebraska Public Schools Supporters Will Backfire 

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odesa in the Kremlin's crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.

The strikes killed at least two people in Odesa. In Mykolaiv, a city close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured, including a child, Ukrainian officials said.

Russia has targeted Ukrainian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-crimea-1676e6e746c888c8c8c1f0e4493be6fa">critical grain export infrastructure</a>&nbsp;since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-strike-grain-f4f9cc439384e4d7012c82368338405f">vowed “retribution”</a>&nbsp;this week for an attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-crimea-ukraine-kerch-bridge-c3759176ab015796a1e21ca82f19e0c9">damaged a crucial bridge</a>&nbsp;between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats.

The strikes on Ukraine's grain export infrastructure have helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-black-sea-grain-deal-365db9ddb05fb9f2114347aa59b8546a">drive up food prices in countries facing hunger</a>. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal Monday would result in more human suffering, with potentially millions of people affected.

Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at <a href="https://www.rabobank.com/en/home/index.html">Rabobank,</a> said wheat prices have risen about 17% over the last week, calling it a surprising rise that started even before the grain deal ended Monday and attributing it to “a little bit of panic.”

The grain deal provided guarantees that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-grain-shipping-risks-6adc97731965377e2f1db5f91adefa92">ships would not be attacked</a>&nbsp;entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer.

The Russian military on Thursday described its strikes on Odesa, a city whose downtown area is described by the United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO as possessing "outstanding universal value,” as “retaliatory.”

In January, UNESCO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-entertainment-politics-odessa-ukraine-government-51da3a402b343bdd9ae8c2587278cb2d">added Odesa’s historic center</a>&nbsp;to its list of endangered World Heritage Sites, with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay saying the “legendary port that has left its mark in cinema, literature and the arts.”

Despite multiple Russian artillery attacks and airstrikes during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>&nbsp;that began in February 2022, Odesa had not previously been subjected to the heavy barrages that have targeted other towns and cities in Ukraine's south and east.

Odesa residents reeled from Russia’s sudden focus on their city.

“I remember the attack on the port last year, but now it feels like it was only 5% compared to what the Russians have launched at us during these past three days,” Oleksandr Kolodin, a 29-year-old photographer, told The Associated Press.

Some feared that Russia’s decision to tear up the grain deal would make Odesa a long-term primary target.

“We saw how they could attack Kyiv for an entire month,” said 29-year-old programmer Victor, referring to the intense bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in May. He asked to use only his first name out of concern for his safety.

The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it targeted “production shops and storage sites for unmanned boats” in Odesa and the nearby city of Chornomorsk. In the Mykolaiv area, the Russian military claimed to have destroyed Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure facilities and ammunition depots.

Neither sides’ claims could be independently verified.

The previous night, an intense Russian bombardment using drones and missiles damaged critical port infrastructure in Odesa, including grain and oil terminals. The attack destroyed at least 60,000 tons of grain.

In what appeared to be a tit-for-tat move, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that as of Friday, all vessels in the Black Sea heading to Russian ports “may be considered by Ukraine as such carrying military cargo with all the associated risks.” That may result in higher insurance costs for those ships.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier this week that Moscow had formally declared wide areas of the Black Sea dangerous for shipping and warned that it would view any incoming ship as laden with weapons, effectively announcing a sea blockade.

Despite the risks, ship owners haven't shown any less interest so far in carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, according to John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the world’s commercial fleet.

The European Union’s foreign affairs chief condemned Russia's targeting of grain storage facilities.

“More than 60,000 tons of grain has been burned,” Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Thursday, regarding Moscow's recent tactics. “So not only they withdraw from the grain agreement … but they are burning the grain.”

German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the same meeting that the EU is involved in international efforts to get Ukrainian grain to the world market.

“The fact that the Russian president has canceled the grain agreement and is now bombing the port of Odesa is not only another attack on Ukraine, but an attack on the people, on the poorest people in the world,” she said. “Hundreds of thousands of people, not to say millions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kenya-somalia-refugees-hunger-food-ukraine-deal-7a7bbb6de8173ec20811663ad53362ce">urgently need grain from Ukraine</a>.”

The White House warned Wednesday that Russia was preparing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-shipping-black-sea-6e7721886bb2b1d98af2e49cf6f67aaf">possible attacks on civilian shipping</a>&nbsp;vessels in the Black Sea. The warning could alarm shippers and further drive up grain prices.

Russia has laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks,” the statement said.

A lot of the wheat exported from Ukraine goes to very poor countries, such as those in North Africa, he said. People in those places are already struggling with food insecurity and high local food prices. Russia, meanwhile, has been exporting record amounts of wheat in recent months despite complaints that its agricultural exports have been hindered.

There is “a vast list of underdeveloped countries that depend on Ukrainian and Russian wheat,” Mera said. “And with prices going up, people will have to pay more for that wheat, which means more expensive bread in those countries.”

Russia has blasted Ukrainian towns and cities since the start of the war. Ukraine's Western allies have helped upgrade its air defense systems. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-aid-war-83790aadb76c4eca6da9d0dc48ad791c">latest military aid package</a>&nbsp;from the United States, announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday, includes funding for four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and munitions for them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1663760963726.jpeg" alt="Russia has targeted Ukrainian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-crimea-1676e6e746c888c8c8c1f0e4493be6fa">critical grain export infrastructure</a>&nbsp;since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-strike-grain-f4f9cc439384e4d7012c82368338405f">vowed “retribution”</a>&nbsp;this week for an attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-crimea-ukraine-kerch-bridge-c3759176ab015796a1e21ca82f19e0c9">damaged a crucial bridge</a>&nbsp;between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats. -Photo Russian Presidential Press Service via AP" />
 <figcaption>Russia has targeted Ukrainian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-crimea-1676e6e746c888c8c8c1f0e4493be6fa">critical grain export infrastructure</a>&nbsp;since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-strike-grain-f4f9cc439384e4d7012c82368338405f">vowed “retribution”</a>&nbsp;this week for an attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-crimea-ukraine-kerch-bridge-c3759176ab015796a1e21ca82f19e0c9">damaged a crucial bridge</a>&nbsp;between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats. -Photo Russian Presidential Press Service via AP</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia pounded Ukraine’s southern cities with drones and missiles for a third consecutive night Thursday, keeping Odesa in the Kremlin's crosshairs after a bitter dispute over the end of a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.The strikes killed at least two people in Odesa. In Mykolaiv, a city close to the Black Sea, at least 19 people were injured, including a child, Ukrainian officials said.Russia has targeted Ukrainian&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-crimea-1676e6e746c888c8c8c1f0e4493be6fa">critical grain export infrastructure</a>&nbsp;since it&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-odesa-strike-grain-f4f9cc439384e4d7012c82368338405f">vowed “retribution”</a>&nbsp;this week for an attack that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-crimea-ukraine-kerch-bridge-c3759176ab015796a1e21ca82f19e0c9">damaged a crucial bridge</a>&nbsp;between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials blamed that strike on Ukrainian drone boats.The strikes on Ukraine's grain export infrastructure have helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/what-is-black-sea-grain-deal-365db9ddb05fb9f2114347aa59b8546a">drive up food prices in countries facing hunger</a>. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the end of the deal Monday would result in more human suffering, with potentially millions of people affected.Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at <a href="https://www.rabobank.com/en/home/index.html">Rabobank,</a> said wheat prices have risen about 17% over the last week, calling it a surprising rise that started even before the grain deal ended Monday and attributing it to “a little bit of panic.”The grain deal provided guarantees that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-grain-shipping-risks-6adc97731965377e2f1db5f91adefa92">ships would not be attacked</a>&nbsp;entering and leaving Ukrainian ports, while a separate agreement facilitated the movement of Russian food and fertilizer.The Russian military on Thursday described its strikes on Odesa, a city whose downtown area is described by the United Nations’ cultural agency UNESCO as possessing "outstanding universal value,” as “retaliatory.”In January, UNESCO&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/zelenskyy-entertainment-politics-odessa-ukraine-government-51da3a402b343bdd9ae8c2587278cb2d">added Odesa’s historic center</a>&nbsp;to its list of endangered World Heritage Sites, with UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay saying the “legendary port that has left its mark in cinema, literature and the arts.”Despite multiple Russian artillery attacks and airstrikes during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the war</a>&nbsp;that began in February 2022, Odesa had not previously been subjected to the heavy barrages that have targeted other towns and cities in Ukraine's south and east.Odesa residents reeled from Russia’s sudden focus on their city.“I remember the attack on the port last year, but now it feels like it was only 5% compared to what the Russians have launched at us during these past three days,” Oleksandr Kolodin, a 29-year-old photographer, told The Associated Press.Some feared that Russia’s decision to tear up the grain deal would make Odesa a long-term primary target.“We saw how they could attack Kyiv for an entire month,” said 29-year-old programmer Victor, referring to the intense bombardment of the Ukrainian capital in May. He asked to use only his first name out of concern for his safety.The Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement that it targeted “production shops and storage sites for unmanned boats” in Odesa and the nearby city of Chornomorsk. In the Mykolaiv area, the Russian military claimed to have destroyed Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure facilities and ammunition depots.Neither sides’ claims could be independently verified.The previous night, an intense Russian bombardment using drones and missiles damaged critical port infrastructure in Odesa, including grain and oil terminals. The attack destroyed at least 60,000 tons of grain.In what appeared to be a tit-for-tat move, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that as of Friday, all vessels in the Black Sea heading to Russian ports “may be considered by Ukraine as such carrying military cargo with all the associated risks.” That may result in higher insurance costs for those ships.Russia’s Defense Ministry said earlier this week that Moscow had formally declared wide areas of the Black Sea dangerous for shipping and warned that it would view any incoming ship as laden with weapons, effectively announcing a sea blockade.Despite the risks, ship owners haven't shown any less interest so far in carrying Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, according to John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping, which represents 80% of the world’s commercial fleet.The European Union’s foreign affairs chief condemned Russia's targeting of grain storage facilities.“More than 60,000 tons of grain has been burned,” Josep Borrell said in Brussels on Thursday, regarding Moscow's recent tactics. “So not only they withdraw from the grain agreement … but they are burning the grain.”German Foreign Affairs Minister Annalena Baerbock said at the same meeting that the EU is involved in international efforts to get Ukrainian grain to the world market.“The fact that the Russian president has canceled the grain agreement and is now bombing the port of Odesa is not only another attack on Ukraine, but an attack on the people, on the poorest people in the world,” she said. “Hundreds of thousands of people, not to say millions,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kenya-somalia-refugees-hunger-food-ukraine-deal-7a7bbb6de8173ec20811663ad53362ce">urgently need grain from Ukraine</a>.”The White House warned Wednesday that Russia was preparing&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-shipping-black-sea-6e7721886bb2b1d98af2e49cf6f67aaf">possible attacks on civilian shipping</a>&nbsp;vessels in the Black Sea. The warning could alarm shippers and further drive up grain prices.Russia has laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports, White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks,” the statement said.A lot of the wheat exported from Ukraine goes to very poor countries, such as those in North Africa, he said. People in those places are already struggling with food insecurity and high local food prices. Russia, meanwhile, has been exporting record amounts of wheat in recent months despite complaints that its agricultural exports have been hindered.There is “a vast list of underdeveloped countries that depend on Ukrainian and Russian wheat,” Mera said. “And with prices going up, people will have to pay more for that wheat, which means more expensive bread in those countries.”Russia has blasted Ukrainian towns and cities since the start of the war. Ukraine's Western allies have helped upgrade its air defense systems. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-aid-war-83790aadb76c4eca6da9d0dc48ad791c">latest military aid package</a>&nbsp;from the United States, announced by the Pentagon on Wednesday, includes funding for four National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and munitions for them.

Price of wheat up dramatically as Russia attacks Ukraine's port cities 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-dhhs-commemorates-first-year-of-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;One year after the implementation of a new three-digit suicide prevention line, Nebraska’s health department says a focus will be continuing to spread the word about the number.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://988lifeline.org/">988</a>&nbsp;number was established as a nationwide, 24/7 suicide prevention line — available to anyone experiencing a mental health-related crisis — on July 16, 2022. The number provides a direct connection to trained, compassionate, accessible care and support for those in crisis, according to Nebraska public health officials.

Between July 16, 2022, and June 30, 988 Nebraska received 18,300 calls, more than twice as many calls than in calendar year 2021.

“988 is a vital resource in Nebraska and across our nation,” said Tony Green, interim director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. “It is important to remember that no matter your situation, you are not alone, and that help is available and effective.”

The department is seeking the public’s help in sharing information about 988 with colleagues, friends and family.

Before 988, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.boystown.org/Pages/contact.aspx#:~:text=Boys%20Town%20Hotline,enting%20Experts%20at%20Boys%20Town.">Boys Town National Hotline</a>&nbsp;in Omaha was the call center for the Suicide Prevention Hotline. It then took on the implementation of 988.&nbsp;

Most calls — 96.3% — to 988 are being de-escalated and managed by Boys Town crisis counselors without activating the Mobile Crisis Response Team, according to DHHS. Just over 3% of calls resulted in the need for emergency services or law enforcement, officials said.

Boys Town’s implementation plan had an initial goal of a 90% average answer rate and an 80% average chat and text answer rate. The first year exceeded these goals, with a 95.53% average answer rate, 88.5% average chat answer rate and 88.3% average text answer rate.

The department says It’s vital to continue to develop crisis-receiving and stabilization services statewide, starting with community-based services.

The department recommends these numbers for individuals or their loved ones in times of crisis:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667570605492.jpg" alt="Phones - Photo On File" />
 <figcaption>Phones - Photo On File</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-dhhs-commemorates-first-year-of-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;One year after the implementation of a new three-digit suicide prevention line, Nebraska’s health department says a focus will be continuing to spread the word about the number.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://988lifeline.org/">988</a>&nbsp;number was established as a nationwide, 24/7 suicide prevention line — available to anyone experiencing a mental health-related crisis — on July 16, 2022. The number provides a direct connection to trained, compassionate, accessible care and support for those in crisis, according to Nebraska public health officials.Between July 16, 2022, and June 30, 988 Nebraska received 18,300 calls, more than twice as many calls than in calendar year 2021.“988 is a vital resource in Nebraska and across our nation,” said Tony Green, interim director of the Division of Behavioral Health at the Department of Health and Human Services. “It is important to remember that no matter your situation, you are not alone, and that help is available and effective.”The department is seeking the public’s help in sharing information about 988 with colleagues, friends and family.<h2>Boys Town</h2>Before 988, the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.boystown.org/Pages/contact.aspx#:~:text=Boys%20Town%20Hotline,enting%20Experts%20at%20Boys%20Town.">Boys Town National Hotline</a>&nbsp;in Omaha was the call center for the Suicide Prevention Hotline. It then took on the implementation of 988.&nbsp;Most calls — 96.3% — to 988 are being de-escalated and managed by Boys Town crisis counselors without activating the Mobile Crisis Response Team, according to DHHS. Just over 3% of calls resulted in the need for emergency services or law enforcement, officials said.Boys Town’s implementation plan had an initial goal of a 90% average answer rate and an 80% average chat and text answer rate. The first year exceeded these goals, with a 95.53% average answer rate, 88.5% average chat answer rate and 88.3% average text answer rate.The department says It’s vital to continue to develop crisis-receiving and stabilization services statewide, starting with community-based services.<h2>Additional support</h2>The department recommends these numbers for individuals or their loved ones in times of crisis:<ul>
 <li>988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline —&nbsp;call, text or chat 988.</li><li>Local faith-based leaders, health care professionals or campus health centers.</li><li>Nebraska Family Helpline —&nbsp;888-866-8660</li><li>Rural Response Hotline —&nbsp;1-800-464-0258</li><li>Disaster Distress Helpline —&nbsp;1-800-985-5990 (oprime dos para Español) or text TalkWithUs to 66746</li><li>National Domestic Violence Hotline —&nbsp;1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522</li><li>National Child Abuse Hotline —&nbsp;call or text 1-800-422-4453 (1-800-4AChild)</li><li>National Sexual Assault Hotline 1-800-656-4673 (1-800-656-HOPE)</li>
 </ul>

Nebraska DHHS commemorates first year of 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

OMAHA, Neb. (July 20, 2023) —&nbsp;After declining below growth neutral in March, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index for July expanded above the threshold for a fourth straight month, according to the July monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.

Overall:&nbsp;<a>The region’s overall reading in July slipped to 55.6 from June’s 56.9.&nbsp;</a>The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.&nbsp;

“After negative growth during the first quarter of this year, the Rural Mainstreet economy experienced positive but slow economic growth for the second quarter and has now started the third quarter on a healthy note,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fbusiness.creighton.edu%2f&amp;c=E,1,H2-nN32t449k24JHwUvlitvXl1CyGL3otXNM_R1VIiKqLXDMryxl_Y6q1js79y0toQiTInmRu-RbdlvndMKUQMEQLW_0kE9bX_khSVNGYNttEw,,&amp;typo=1" target="_blank">Heider College of Business</a>.

Farming and ranching land prices:&nbsp;<a></a><a>The region’s farmland price index rose to 64.6 from 59.3 in June and 56.3 in May.&nbsp;</a><a>This was the 34th straight month</a><a></a><a>&nbsp;that the index has advanced above 50.0.&nbsp;</a>

Bankers reported that, on average, non-farm investors secured approximately 17.1% of farmland sales in their area over the past six months. This is almost double the 9.1% reported by bankers in April 2022 when the same question was asked.&nbsp;

<a>Farm equipment sales:</a>&nbsp;The farm equipment-sales index for July stood at a tepid 50.0, which was up from 48.3 in June.&nbsp;“Higher borrowing costs have begun to negatively impact purchases of farm equipment,” said Goss.

Banking:&nbsp;<a>The July loan volume index declined to a still strong 75.9 from June’s 79.2.</a>&nbsp;The checking deposit index sank to 32.7 from 37.5 in June, and the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments decreased to a vigorous 71.2 from 76.8 for June.

Bank CEOs were asked to comment on the Federal Reserve’s current short-term interest rate policy<a>. More than nine of ten, or 92.5%, indicated that the Fed should cease raising rates.</a>&nbsp;Only 7.5% indicated that the Fed should continue to raise short-term interest rates.

“Higher short-term interest rates produced by Federal Reserve’s rate hikes over the past year have posed a significant threat to community banks by expanding the costs of customer deposits while the rates on bank loans have risen little over the same time period,” said Goss.

Despite the loss of 40-45% of community banks during the last financial crisis in 2008-09, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has backed policies that encourage more mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector.&nbsp;<a>More than three-fourths of bankers expect that such a policy would be damaging to community banks and to the farm economy served by the banks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>

Hiring:&nbsp;The new hiring index for July climbed to 59.3 from June’s 58.9. Over the past 12 months, the Rural Mainstreet Economy has expanded jobs by 2.3% compared to a lower 1.6% for urban areas of the same 10 states.

Confidence:&nbsp;<a>Higher interest rates, deposit outflows and a rising regulatory environment continued to constrain the business confidence index to a weak 44.4, up from 43.1 in June</a>. “Over the past 12 months, the regional confidence index has fallen to levels indicating a negative outlook,” said Goss.

Home and retail sales:&nbsp;July home sales rose to 55.8 from June’s 48.2. “Despite higher mortgage rates, an increase in the housing inventory boosted sales across the region,” said Goss.

The retail-sales index for July expanded to a healthy 59.6 from June’s 56.9. “<a>After an OK second quarter, bankers are getting more optimistic regarding the economic outlook for retail sales for the third quarter,</a>” said Goss.

The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former Chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey and launched it in January 2006.

<a></a>Colorado:&nbsp;Colorado’s RMI for July climbed to a strong 65.7 from June’s 63.4. The farmland- and ranchland-price index for July rose to 66.4 from 57.5 in June. The state’s new hiring index was 61.9 from 57.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a>Colorado’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.8% over the past 12 months (fifth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.9% during this same time period.</a>

Illinois:&nbsp;The July RMI for Illinois improved to 59.0 from June’s 55.8. The farmland-price index climbed to 64.5 from 57.6 in June. The state’s new-hiring index decreased to 59.6 from 63.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a>Illinois’ average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 0.5% over the past 12 months (10th in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.9% during this same time period. Jim Eckert, CEO of Anchor State Bank in Anchor said, “Our area has been dry and crops are behind. Recent rains have helped, but the ‘top end’ for yields is gone.”</a>

Iowa:&nbsp;Iowa’s July RMI expanded to 54.1 from 51.7 in June. Iowa’s farmland-price index advanced to 63.1 from June’s 55.6. Iowa’s new-hiring index for July moved higher to 57.9 from 52.4 in June<a>.&nbsp;</a><a></a><a>Iowa’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 0.9% over the past 12 months (ninth in 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 1.3% during this same time period.</a>

Kansas:&nbsp;The Kansas RMI for July dipped to 55.2 from June’s 55.3. The state’s farmland-price index climbed to 63.4 from 57.4 in June. The July new-hiring index for Kansas improved to 58.3 from 54.7 in June. Kansas’ average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.3% over the past 12 months (sixth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.3% during this same time period.

Minnesota:&nbsp;The July RMI for Minnesota sank to 53.8 from June’s 54.9. Minnesota’s farmland-price index slipped to 63.0 from 65.8 in June. The new-hiring index for July climbed to 57.8 from 54.6 in June.<a>&nbsp;Minnesota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.0% over the past 12 months (seventh in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.3% during this same time period.</a>

Missouri:&nbsp;The state’s July RMI dropped to 42.7 from 44.5 in June. The farmland-price index rose to 59.9 from 54.4 in June. The state’s new hiring gauge improved to 53.9 from 50.9 in June. Missouri’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 8.0% over the past 12 months (first in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 5.6% during this same time period.

Nebraska:&nbsp;The Nebraska RMI slipped to a healthy 60.5 from 62.9 in June. The state’s farmland-price index for July expanded to 64.9 from June’s 59.6. Nebraska’s July new-hiring index dipped to 60.1 from 69.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a></a><a>Nebraska’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 3.0% over the past 12 months (fourth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 0.7% during this same time period.</a>

North Dakota:&nbsp;North Dakota’s RMI for July advanced to 61.7 from June’s 56.8. The state’s farmland-price index climbed to 85.3 from 57.9 in June. The state’s new-hiring index declined to a healthy 60.6 from 64.3 in June. North Dakota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 7.6% over the past 12 months (second in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 5.2% during this same time period.

South Dakota:&nbsp;The July RMI for South Dakota slipped below growth neutral to 49.0 from June’s 51.2. The state’s farmland-price index advanced to 61.7 from 55.3 in June. South Dakota’s July new hiring index dipped to a solid 56.1 from 56.3 in June. South Dakota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 5.3% over the past 12 months (third in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 2.9% during this same time period.

Wyoming:&nbsp;The July RMI for Wyoming grew to 55.5 from 54.9 in June. The July farmland- and ranchland-price index rose to 63.5 from 57.0 in June. Wyoming’s new-hiring index declined to a solid 58.4 from June’s 61.7. Wyoming’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 1.6% over the past 12 months (eighth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 2.0% during this same time period.

Tables 1 and 2 summarize the survey findings. Next month’s survey results will be released on the third Thursday of the month, August 17, 2023.

Jon Nyatawa Creighton UniversityOMAHA, Neb. (July 20, 2023) —&nbsp;After declining below growth neutral in March, the overall Rural Mainstreet Index for July expanded above the threshold for a fourth straight month, according to the July monthly survey of bank CEOs in rural areas of a 10-state region dependent on agriculture and/or energy.Overall:&nbsp;<a>The region’s overall reading in July slipped to 55.6 from June’s 56.9.&nbsp;</a>The index ranges between 0 and 100, with a reading of 50.0 representing growth neutral.&nbsp;“After negative growth during the first quarter of this year, the Rural Mainstreet economy experienced positive but slow economic growth for the second quarter and has now started the third quarter on a healthy note,” said Ernie Goss, PhD, Jack A. MacAllister Chair in Regional Economics at Creighton University’s&nbsp;<a href="https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fbusiness.creighton.edu%2f&amp;c=E,1,H2-nN32t449k24JHwUvlitvXl1CyGL3otXNM_R1VIiKqLXDMryxl_Y6q1js79y0toQiTInmRu-RbdlvndMKUQMEQLW_0kE9bX_khSVNGYNttEw,,&amp;typo=1" target="_blank">Heider College of Business</a>.Farming and ranching land prices:&nbsp;<a></a><a>The region’s farmland price index rose to 64.6 from 59.3 in June and 56.3 in May.&nbsp;</a><a>This was the 34th straight month</a><a></a><a>&nbsp;that the index has advanced above 50.0.&nbsp;</a>Bankers reported that, on average, non-farm investors secured approximately 17.1% of farmland sales in their area over the past six months. This is almost double the 9.1% reported by bankers in April 2022 when the same question was asked.&nbsp;<a>Farm equipment sales:</a>&nbsp;The farm equipment-sales index for July stood at a tepid 50.0, which was up from 48.3 in June.&nbsp;“Higher borrowing costs have begun to negatively impact purchases of farm equipment,” said Goss.Banking:&nbsp;<a>The July loan volume index declined to a still strong 75.9 from June’s 79.2.</a>&nbsp;The checking deposit index sank to 32.7 from 37.5 in June, and the index for certificates of deposit and other savings instruments decreased to a vigorous 71.2 from 76.8 for June.Bank CEOs were asked to comment on the Federal Reserve’s current short-term interest rate policy<a>. More than nine of ten, or 92.5%, indicated that the Fed should cease raising rates.</a>&nbsp;Only 7.5% indicated that the Fed should continue to raise short-term interest rates.“Higher short-term interest rates produced by Federal Reserve’s rate hikes over the past year have posed a significant threat to community banks by expanding the costs of customer deposits while the rates on bank loans have risen little over the same time period,” said Goss.Despite the loss of 40-45% of community banks during the last financial crisis in 2008-09, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has backed policies that encourage more mergers and acquisitions in the banking sector.&nbsp;<a>More than three-fourths of bankers expect that such a policy would be damaging to community banks and to the farm economy served by the banks.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a>Hiring:&nbsp;The new hiring index for July climbed to 59.3 from June’s 58.9. Over the past 12 months, the Rural Mainstreet Economy has expanded jobs by 2.3% compared to a lower 1.6% for urban areas of the same 10 states.Confidence:&nbsp;<a>Higher interest rates, deposit outflows and a rising regulatory environment continued to constrain the business confidence index to a weak 44.4, up from 43.1 in June</a>. “Over the past 12 months, the regional confidence index has fallen to levels indicating a negative outlook,” said Goss.Home and retail sales:&nbsp;July home sales rose to 55.8 from June’s 48.2. “Despite higher mortgage rates, an increase in the housing inventory boosted sales across the region,” said Goss.The retail-sales index for July expanded to a healthy 59.6 from June’s 56.9. “<a>After an OK second quarter, bankers are getting more optimistic regarding the economic outlook for retail sales for the third quarter,</a>” said Goss.The survey represents an early snapshot of the economy of rural agriculturally and energy-dependent portions of the nation. The Rural Mainstreet Index is a unique index covering 10 regional states, focusing on approximately 200 rural communities with an average population of 1,300. The index provides the most current real-time analysis of the rural economy. Goss and Bill McQuillan, former Chairman of the Independent Community Banks of America, created the monthly economic survey and launched it in January 2006.Below are the state reports:<a></a>Colorado:&nbsp;Colorado’s RMI for July climbed to a strong 65.7 from June’s 63.4. The farmland- and ranchland-price index for July rose to 66.4 from 57.5 in June. The state’s new hiring index was 61.9 from 57.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a></a><a>Colorado’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.8% over the past 12 months (fifth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.9% during this same time period.</a>Illinois:&nbsp;The July RMI for Illinois improved to 59.0 from June’s 55.8. The farmland-price index climbed to 64.5 from 57.6 in June. The state’s new-hiring index decreased to 59.6 from 63.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a>Illinois’ average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 0.5% over the past 12 months (10th in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.9% during this same time period. Jim Eckert, CEO of Anchor State Bank in Anchor said, “Our area has been dry and crops are behind. Recent rains have helped, but the ‘top end’ for yields is gone.”</a>Iowa:&nbsp;Iowa’s July RMI expanded to 54.1 from 51.7 in June. Iowa’s farmland-price index advanced to 63.1 from June’s 55.6. Iowa’s new-hiring index for July moved higher to 57.9 from 52.4 in June<a>.&nbsp;</a><a></a><a>Iowa’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 0.9% over the past 12 months (ninth in 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 1.3% during this same time period.</a>Kansas:&nbsp;The Kansas RMI for July dipped to 55.2 from June’s 55.3. The state’s farmland-price index climbed to 63.4 from 57.4 in June. The July new-hiring index for Kansas improved to 58.3 from 54.7 in June. Kansas’ average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.3% over the past 12 months (sixth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.3% during this same time period.Minnesota:&nbsp;The July RMI for Minnesota sank to 53.8 from June’s 54.9. Minnesota’s farmland-price index slipped to 63.0 from 65.8 in June. The new-hiring index for July climbed to 57.8 from 54.6 in June.<a>&nbsp;Minnesota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 2.0% over the past 12 months (seventh in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 0.3% during this same time period.</a>Missouri:&nbsp;The state’s July RMI dropped to 42.7 from 44.5 in June. The farmland-price index rose to 59.9 from 54.4 in June. The state’s new hiring gauge improved to 53.9 from 50.9 in June. Missouri’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 8.0% over the past 12 months (first in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 5.6% during this same time period.Nebraska:&nbsp;The Nebraska RMI slipped to a healthy 60.5 from 62.9 in June. The state’s farmland-price index for July expanded to 64.9 from June’s 59.6. Nebraska’s July new-hiring index dipped to 60.1 from 69.5 in June.&nbsp;<a></a><a></a><a>Nebraska’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 3.0% over the past 12 months (fourth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 0.7% during this same time period.</a>North Dakota:&nbsp;North Dakota’s RMI for July advanced to 61.7 from June’s 56.8. The state’s farmland-price index climbed to 85.3 from 57.9 in June. The state’s new-hiring index declined to a healthy 60.6 from 64.3 in June. North Dakota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 7.6% over the past 12 months (second in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 5.2% during this same time period.South Dakota:&nbsp;The July RMI for South Dakota slipped below growth neutral to 49.0 from June’s 51.2. The state’s farmland-price index advanced to 61.7 from 55.3 in June. South Dakota’s July new hiring index dipped to a solid 56.1 from 56.3 in June. South Dakota’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 5.3% over the past 12 months (third in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages improved by 2.9% during this same time period.Wyoming:&nbsp;The July RMI for Wyoming grew to 55.5 from 54.9 in June. The July farmland- and ranchland-price index rose to 63.5 from 57.0 in June. Wyoming’s new-hiring index declined to a solid 58.4 from June’s 61.7. Wyoming’s average unadjusted private hourly wages expanded by 1.6% over the past 12 months (eighth in the 10-state region), while average inflation-adjusted wages slumped by 2.0% during this same time period.Tables 1 and 2 summarize the survey findings. Next month’s survey results will be released on the third Thursday of the month, August 17, 2023.

 Rural Mainstreet Economy Expands in July

Tesla is recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles because some front-row seat belts may not have been reconnected properly after being repaired.

Tesla said in its safety recall report that in the vehicles, a first-row seat belt was disconnected from its pretensioner anchor as part of a necessary step to perform a repair. But the seat belt may not have been reconnected to its pretensioner anchor properly after the repair was made.

The company said that if the seat belt isn't reconnected properly, it may not perform as it's supposed to in a collision, which may increase the risk of injury.

U.S. highway safety regulators opened an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-investigation-seat-belt-loose-74c60466c9d8c2700f0983c8044fbbf3">investigation</a>&nbsp;into possible Tesla seat belt issues in March.

As of June 19, Tesla has identified 12 warranty claims related to the issue, but the company is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths that may be related to the seat belt issue.

Notification letters will be mailed to owners who have vehicles related to the recall. Tesla said that it will perform free inspections and connect both first-row seat belts to their pretensioner anchors where necessary. If the seat belt can't be connected to the pretensioner anchor properly, the seat belt assembly will be replaced for free.

Tesla also announced it's recalling more than 1,300 if its 2023 Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles because of a camera issue.

The company said in its recall report that on some vehicles vehicles, the pitch angle of the forward-facing cameras may not be aligned to properly, which may cause certain active safety features to be unavailable, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, without alerting the driver to their unavailability.

Drivers relying on unavailable features could increase the risk of a collision, the company said.

Customers can bring their vehicles to Tesla for a free inspection, and they will adjust the camera angle where necessary.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689862965931.jpeg" alt="The Tesla company logo is shown at a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo. Feb. 2, 2020. Tesla said in its safety recall report that is recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles because some front-row seat belts may not have been reconnected properly following a repair. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)" />
 <figcaption>The Tesla company logo is shown at a Tesla dealership in Littleton, Colo. Feb. 2, 2020. Tesla said in its safety recall report that is recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles because some front-row seat belts may not have been reconnected properly following a repair. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Michelle Chapman APTesla is recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles because some front-row seat belts may not have been reconnected properly after being repaired.Tesla said in its safety recall report that in the vehicles, a first-row seat belt was disconnected from its pretensioner anchor as part of a necessary step to perform a repair. But the seat belt may not have been reconnected to its pretensioner anchor properly after the repair was made.The company said that if the seat belt isn't reconnected properly, it may not perform as it's supposed to in a collision, which may increase the risk of injury.U.S. highway safety regulators opened an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tesla-investigation-seat-belt-loose-74c60466c9d8c2700f0983c8044fbbf3">investigation</a>&nbsp;into possible Tesla seat belt issues in March.As of June 19, Tesla has identified 12 warranty claims related to the issue, but the company is not aware of any crashes, injuries or deaths that may be related to the seat belt issue.Notification letters will be mailed to owners who have vehicles related to the recall. Tesla said that it will perform free inspections and connect both first-row seat belts to their pretensioner anchors where necessary. If the seat belt can't be connected to the pretensioner anchor properly, the seat belt assembly will be replaced for free.Tesla also announced it's recalling more than 1,300 if its 2023 Model S, Model X and Model Y vehicles because of a camera issue.The company said in its recall report that on some vehicles vehicles, the pitch angle of the forward-facing cameras may not be aligned to properly, which may cause certain active safety features to be unavailable, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane keeping assist, without alerting the driver to their unavailability.Drivers relying on unavailable features could increase the risk of a collision, the company said.Customers can bring their vehicles to Tesla for a free inspection, and they will adjust the camera angle where necessary.

Tesla recalling nearly 16,000 of its 2021-2023 Model S and Model X vehicles due to seat belt issue

Seth Winfree, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is one of the lead authors on a paper recently published in the journal Nature.

The paper – “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05769-3" target="_blank">An Atlas of Healthy and Injured Cell States and Niches in the Human Kidney</a>” – is the result of efforts by National Institutes of Health funded consortia of researchers, including Dr. Winfree, which together will be releasing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/collections/aihihijabe" target="_blank">an initial collection of nine papers</a>&nbsp;across the Nature publishing group this summer.

The paper’s authors call the work a “high resolution cellular atlas of 100 cell types that include rare and novel cell populations. The multi-omic approach provides detailed transcriptomic profiles, epigenomic regulatory factors, and spatial localizations for major cell types spanning the entire kidney.”

This “Atlas” paper is central to developing the multi-omic and spatially defined molecular signatures of the kidney in health and disease, Dr. Winfree said.

Drawing largely from the work of two consortia -- HUBMAP, the Human Biomolecular Atlas Program, and KPMP, the Kidney Precision Medicine Project – the new paper offers what Dr. Winfree calls an “unprecedented” cell and anatomical-level atlas.

“This work will provide a molecular roadmap and context for us to understand disease states as well as normal physiology of the human kidney,” Dr. Winfree said.

Producing the paper took six years of combined research from 19 institutions and two years of writing. The result, Dr. Winfree said, will provide “a roadmap to generate new hypotheses that can be tested, and move us toward a better understanding of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.”

The atlas, he said, will provide the molecular information that can be explored in relation to clinical information. “That's been one of the primary objectives of the entire work.”

In the paper, the authors draw correlations with clinical outcomes based on cell types and cell states identified in the atlas.

“These are initial observations, not things that are clinically actionable,” Dr. Winfree said. “But now we can take a clinical diagnosis -- for instance, acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease – and begin to understand those diseases molecularly -- to begin unpacking kidney disease and identify novel mechanisms.”

The atlas also will help kidney researchers across the globe develop new hypotheses based on this data.

“Not only will we be able to classify diseases in a new way, but we potentially can come up with new strategies to tackle the disease as well.”

Joseph Khoury, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology, said: “This work by Dr. Winfree and the team is a quantum leap in integrative genomics, epigenetics, and transcriptomics. I say this because not only do they present a definitive body of work to understand the pathophysiology of renal diseases at a deep cellular level, but they put it elegantly within a spatial context using innovative technology. Seth’s expertise shines throughout this landmark work.”

Dr. Winfree said: “It's an unprecedented interrogation of essentially the same tissue from donors, across multiple platforms including imaging and genomics approaches, as well as basic clinical parameters. That's why we think of it as an atlas -- a compendium of these different interrogation approaches. You can ask questions - if I see this set of clinical parameters, what does that mean in terms of the cell types that are involved in that process? – and build up all kinds of new hypotheses addressing disease mechanisms.”

The long-term goal of the disease-focused consortia KPMP is to be able to answer three questions for patients:

“To this end, researchers in the KPMP have worked to increase the molecular information that can be captured from a single kidney biopsy,” Dr. Winfree said. This has allowed the combining of clinical data with state-of-the-art imaging, genomics and transcriptomics to&nbsp;better identify kidney disease and underlying molecular mechanisms.

“This publication is a first monumental step in achieving these goals.”

Photo caption:&nbsp;Seth Winfree, PhD

UNMC Press ReleaseSeth Winfree, PhD, assistant professor of pathology and microbiology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, is one of the lead authors on a paper recently published in the journal Nature.The paper – “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-05769-3" target="_blank">An Atlas of Healthy and Injured Cell States and Niches in the Human Kidney</a>” – is the result of efforts by National Institutes of Health funded consortia of researchers, including Dr. Winfree, which together will be releasing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nature.com/collections/aihihijabe" target="_blank">an initial collection of nine papers</a>&nbsp;across the Nature publishing group this summer.The paper’s authors call the work a “high resolution cellular atlas of 100 cell types that include rare and novel cell populations. The multi-omic approach provides detailed transcriptomic profiles, epigenomic regulatory factors, and spatial localizations for major cell types spanning the entire kidney.”This “Atlas” paper is central to developing the multi-omic and spatially defined molecular signatures of the kidney in health and disease, Dr. Winfree said.Drawing largely from the work of two consortia -- HUBMAP, the Human Biomolecular Atlas Program, and KPMP, the Kidney Precision Medicine Project – the new paper offers what Dr. Winfree calls an “unprecedented” cell and anatomical-level atlas.“This work will provide a molecular roadmap and context for us to understand disease states as well as normal physiology of the human kidney,” Dr. Winfree said.Producing the paper took six years of combined research from 19 institutions and two years of writing. The result, Dr. Winfree said, will provide “a roadmap to generate new hypotheses that can be tested, and move us toward a better understanding of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.”The atlas, he said, will provide the molecular information that can be explored in relation to clinical information. “That's been one of the primary objectives of the entire work.”In the paper, the authors draw correlations with clinical outcomes based on cell types and cell states identified in the atlas.“These are initial observations, not things that are clinically actionable,” Dr. Winfree said. “But now we can take a clinical diagnosis -- for instance, acute kidney injury or chronic kidney disease – and begin to understand those diseases molecularly -- to begin unpacking kidney disease and identify novel mechanisms.”The atlas also will help kidney researchers across the globe develop new hypotheses based on this data.“Not only will we be able to classify diseases in a new way, but we potentially can come up with new strategies to tackle the disease as well.”Joseph Khoury, MD, chair of the UNMC Department of Pathology and Microbiology, said: “This work by Dr. Winfree and the team is a quantum leap in integrative genomics, epigenetics, and transcriptomics. I say this because not only do they present a definitive body of work to understand the pathophysiology of renal diseases at a deep cellular level, but they put it elegantly within a spatial context using innovative technology. Seth’s expertise shines throughout this landmark work.”Dr. Winfree said: “It's an unprecedented interrogation of essentially the same tissue from donors, across multiple platforms including imaging and genomics approaches, as well as basic clinical parameters. That's why we think of it as an atlas -- a compendium of these different interrogation approaches. You can ask questions - if I see this set of clinical parameters, what does that mean in terms of the cell types that are involved in that process? – and build up all kinds of new hypotheses addressing disease mechanisms.”The long-term goal of the disease-focused consortia KPMP is to be able to answer three questions for patients:<ul>
 <li>What type of kidney disease do I have?</li><li>What will happen to me?</li><li>What can I do about it?</li>
 </ul>“To this end, researchers in the KPMP have worked to increase the molecular information that can be captured from a single kidney biopsy,” Dr. Winfree said. This has allowed the combining of clinical data with state-of-the-art imaging, genomics and transcriptomics to&nbsp;better identify kidney disease and underlying molecular mechanisms.“This publication is a first monumental step in achieving these goals.”Photo caption:&nbsp;Seth Winfree, PhD

UNMC researcher contributes to new ‘atlas’ of kidney cells

Lincoln, NE ‐ July 20, 2023 ‐ One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 5 ticket for the Wednesday, July 19 drawing is holding a ticket worth $110,000.

The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Wednesday's Nebraska Pick 5 draw matched all five winning numbers for the $110,000 jackpot. The ticket was sold at Qwik 6, 1535 1st St, in Friend. The winning numbers from Wednesday's Nebraska Pick 5 draw were 10, 13, 30, 36, 38. 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.

Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska's unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers.

The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows each drawing that it is not won, are 1 in 501,942. The overall odds of winning any Nebraska Pick 5 prize which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.

During the month of July, the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot will increase by $10,000 each time it is not won, up from $4,000, so the jackpot will grow faster than before. See&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>&nbsp;for details.

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 ‐ July 20, 2023 ‐ One lucky player who bought a Nebraska Pick 5 ticket for the Wednesday, July 19 drawing is holding a ticket worth $110,000.The Nebraska Lottery has confirmed that one ticket sold for Wednesday's Nebraska Pick 5 draw matched all five winning numbers for the $110,000 jackpot. The ticket was sold at Qwik 6, 1535 1st St, in Friend. The winning numbers from Wednesday's Nebraska Pick 5 draw were 10, 13, 30, 36, 38. 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.Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska's unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers.The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows each drawing that it is not won, are 1 in 501,942. The overall odds of winning any Nebraska Pick 5 prize which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 8.During the month of July, the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot will increase by $10,000 each time it is not won, up from $4,000, so the jackpot will grow faster than before. See&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>&nbsp;for details.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.

$110,000 Nebraska Pick 5 Winning Ticket Sold in Friend

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska State Patrol evidence technician who stole $1.2 million worth of drugs from evidence storage areas — drugs later tied to a series of overdoses — was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 22 years in prison.

Anna Idigima, 38, pleaded guilty to one drug conspiracy count in federal court in February. Idigima and her boyfriend, George Weaver Jr., conspired to steal cocaine, some of it laced with fentanyl, and sell it, the&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ex-nebraska-state-patrol-employee-gets-prison-time/article_ee83c430-2641-11ee-953c-bb1ab706894b.html">Lincoln Journal Star</a>&nbsp;reported. Weaver is awaiting sentencing in October.

Idigima apologized during her sentencing hearing. Senior U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said the ramifications were huge: The drugs were connected to a series of overdoses, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-lincoln-70a78a65c3e2ba26ef431f7fde78ad92">nearly 100 criminal cases</a>&nbsp;had to be dismissed because of the lost evidence.

“And for what? A guy? A little bit of cash on the side?" Gerrard asked. “There just isn’t any reason that can explain this.”

Puzzled by an unprecedented spate of overdoses in 2021, narcotics investigators in the Lincoln area uncovered the plot. They audited storage areas where Idigima had access and found 154 pounds (70 kilograms) of marijuana, 19 pounds (9 kilograms) of cocaine and 6 pounds (3 kilograms) of fentanyl missing.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska State Patrol evidence technician who stole $1.2 million worth of drugs from evidence storage areas — drugs later tied to a series of overdoses — was sentenced Wednesday to nearly 22 years in prison.Anna Idigima, 38, pleaded guilty to one drug conspiracy count in federal court in February. Idigima and her boyfriend, George Weaver Jr., conspired to steal cocaine, some of it laced with fentanyl, and sell it, the&nbsp;<a href="https://journalstar.com/news/state-regional/crime-courts/ex-nebraska-state-patrol-employee-gets-prison-time/article_ee83c430-2641-11ee-953c-bb1ab706894b.html">Lincoln Journal Star</a>&nbsp;reported. Weaver is awaiting sentencing in October.Idigima apologized during her sentencing hearing. Senior U.S. District Judge John Gerrard said the ramifications were huge: The drugs were connected to a series of overdoses, and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-lincoln-70a78a65c3e2ba26ef431f7fde78ad92">nearly 100 criminal cases</a>&nbsp;had to be dismissed because of the lost evidence.“And for what? A guy? A little bit of cash on the side?" Gerrard asked. “There just isn’t any reason that can explain this.”Puzzled by an unprecedented spate of overdoses in 2021, narcotics investigators in the Lincoln area uncovered the plot. They audited storage areas where Idigima had access and found 154 pounds (70 kilograms) of marijuana, 19 pounds (9 kilograms) of cocaine and 6 pounds (3 kilograms) of fentanyl missing.

Former Nebraska State Patrol worker who stole drugs from evidence gets nearly 22 years

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A winning ticket has been sold in California for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-lottery-billion-dollar-jackpot-286928f603966adb061d9ad421b955ee">the Powerball jackpot</a>&nbsp;worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">sixth largest</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history and the third largest in the history of the game.

The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The California Lottery said on Twitter that the winning ticket was sold in Los Angeles at Las Palmitas Mini Market.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $1 billion to $1.08 billion at the time of the drawing, moving it from the seventh largest to the sixth largest U.S lottery jackpot ever won.

The winner can choose either the total jackpot paid out in yearly increments or a $558.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;in November.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone had won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one had won the grand prize.

Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A winning ticket has been sold in California for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-lottery-billion-dollar-jackpot-286928f603966adb061d9ad421b955ee">the Powerball jackpot</a>&nbsp;worth an estimated $1.08 billion, the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/washington-california-a11cb275a36848310e05ed56608c656c">sixth largest</a>&nbsp;in U.S. history and the third largest in the history of the game.The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were: white balls 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. The California Lottery said on Twitter that the winning ticket was sold in Los Angeles at Las Palmitas Mini Market.Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot beyond its earlier estimate of $1 billion to $1.08 billion at the time of the drawing, moving it from the seventh largest to the sixth largest U.S lottery jackpot ever won.The winner can choose either the total jackpot paid out in yearly increments or a $558.1 million, one-time lump sum before taxes.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">game’s abysmal odds</a>&nbsp;of 1 in 292.2 million are designed to build big prizes that draw more players. The largest Powerball jackpot was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lotteries-iowa-36ef3aefbbc37a15e1c5f172129fa6a6">$2.04 billion Powerball</a>&nbsp;in November.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-winner-ohio-252-million-5506023262d64fb54556fb454a478615">last time</a>&nbsp;someone had won the Powerball jackpot was April 19 for a top prize of nearly $253 million. Since then, no one had won the grand prize.Powerball is played in 45 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 Powerball finally has a winner for its jackpot worth over $1 billion

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-student-debt-relief-could-reach-268-million-under-new-plan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nearly 6,000 Nebraskans qualify for more than $268 million in student debt relief offered under a new Biden administration policy, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

The Department of Education and the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/14/more-than-800000-student-loan-borrowers-to-have-debt-forgiven-white-house-announces/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Department%20of%20Education,agency's%20income%2Ddriven%20repayment%20plans.">announced last week</a>&nbsp;that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt eliminated. State-by-state numbers were released Tuesday.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-provide-804000-borrowers-39-billion-automatic-loan-forgiveness-result-fixes-income-driven-repayment-plans">$39 billion in debt relief</a>&nbsp;will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency’s income-driven repayment plans, officials have said. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. Qualified payments that were made were not accounted for.

“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.

Starting Friday, the Department of Education will begin to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.

The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department (including Parent PLUS loans of either type) who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.

“By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, and borrowers with permanent disabilities, including veterans,” Cardona said.

The left-leaning Protect Borrowers Action is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/06/vulnerable-u-s-house-republicans-who-opposed-student-debt-plan-targeted-in-2024/">targeting 13 U.S. House districts</a>&nbsp;— including Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. — who opposed President Joe Biden’s initial debt relief plan.

Bacon told the Nebraska Examiner this month that Biden’s first plan was “out of line” because “Congress holds the pursestrings.” He pointed to a separate House Republican proposal to the student loan issue: the Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act.

By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-student-debt-relief-could-reach-268-million-under-new-plan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nearly 6,000 Nebraskans qualify for more than $268 million in student debt relief offered under a new Biden administration policy, according to the U.S. Department of Education.The Department of Education and the White House&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/14/more-than-800000-student-loan-borrowers-to-have-debt-forgiven-white-house-announces/#:~:text=WASHINGTON%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Department%20of%20Education,agency's%20income%2Ddriven%20repayment%20plans.">announced last week</a>&nbsp;that more than 800,000 federal student loan borrowers will have their remaining debt eliminated. State-by-state numbers were released Tuesday.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-provide-804000-borrowers-39-billion-automatic-loan-forgiveness-result-fixes-income-driven-repayment-plans">$39 billion in debt relief</a>&nbsp;will come through fixes to mismanagement of the agency’s income-driven repayment plans, officials have said. Many long-time borrowers, including those who had been making payments for 20 years or more, were denied relief they were eligible for under the repayment plans. Qualified payments that were made were not accounted for.“For far too long, borrowers fell through the cracks of a broken system that failed to keep accurate track of their progress towards forgiveness,” U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said in a statement.Starting Friday, the Department of Education will begin to notify those 804,000 borrowers of their forgiveness, and within 30 days their debts will be wiped out.The plan includes borrowers with Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loans held by the department (including Parent PLUS loans of either type) who have reached a forgiveness threshold specified by the department.“By fixing past administrative failures, we are ensuring everyone gets the forgiveness they deserve, just as we have done for public servants, students who were cheated by their colleges, and borrowers with permanent disabilities, including veterans,” Cardona said.The left-leaning Protect Borrowers Action is&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/06/vulnerable-u-s-house-republicans-who-opposed-student-debt-plan-targeted-in-2024/">targeting 13 U.S. House districts</a>&nbsp;— including Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District held by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb. — who opposed President Joe Biden’s initial debt relief plan.Bacon told the Nebraska Examiner this month that Biden’s first plan was “out of line” because “Congress holds the pursestrings.” He pointed to a separate House Republican proposal to the student loan issue: the Federal Assistance to Initiate Repayment (FAIR) Act.

Nebraska student debt relief could reach $268 million under new plan

NEW YORK (AP) — The In-N-Out burger chain will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media.

In the memo announcing new guidelines for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah workers, the fast food chain pointed to “the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals.”

The policy, which goes into effect August 14, applies to all In-N-Out employees in those states, except for those who need to wear masks or other protective gear for job duties that require it, like painting. Employees could face disciplinary action, including being fired, if they do not comply, the the memo says.

<a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx" target="_blank">California</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/adopted/2023/ao1-2023-text-temp-cov19-suspension.pdf" target="_blank">Oregon</a>&nbsp;both have laws in place preventing employers from banning masks.

It is not the first time that the chain, based in California, has clashed with health experts over safety measures that were first put into place as deaths from COVID-19 skyrocketed during the pandemic. In October 2021, several In-N-Out locations in California&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-california-public-health-1e8d88a1360ac8756ebcdffa74499863" target="_blank">faced fines or were temporarily closed</a>&nbsp;because the burger chain refused to enforce COVID-19 vaccination rules.

A company customer service representative confirmed the accuracy of the new mask guidelines with The Associated Press Wednesday. In-N-Out’s press contact did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The new guidelines are facing pushback from public health officials like infectious disease specialist Dr. Judy Stone.

“Requiring a doctor’s note is also a burden in terms of time and money. Many people don’t have a primary care physician or one who is readily available,” Stone wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/07/17/in-n-out-burgers-new-masking-policy-threatens-their-employees-health/?sh=6fe75364909c" target="_blank">column for Forbes</a>&nbsp;this week. “And requiring proof of a disability might be considered a violation of the Americans with Disability Act, depending on how one interprets masking as a request for accommodation.”

Stone also pointed to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — which notes that 6 in 10 adults have a chronic disease, increasing their risk for severe COVID-19.

In-N-Out workers in California and Oregon also have new mask guidelines set to go into effect August 14, according to a separate leaked company memo. But in contrast to the other states, California and Oregon employees will still be able to choose to wear a mask in stores.

Those masks must be a company-provided N-95 mask, the memo says — adding that employees who wish to wear different masks must provide “a valid medical note.”

Both memos note that policies are subject to local health regulations, and that the company will continue to evaluate accommodation for its guidelines.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689792428257.jpeg" alt="FILE - In-N-Out Burger signs fill the skyline on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in Calif. In-N-Out is barring employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week. (AP Photo/Adam Lau, File)" />
 <figcaption>FILE - In-N-Out Burger signs fill the skyline on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, in Calif. In-N-Out is barring employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media last week. (AP Photo/Adam Lau, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY WYATTE GRANTHAM-PHILIPSNEW YORK (AP) — The In-N-Out burger chain will bar employees in five states from wearing masks unless they have a doctor’s note, according to internal company emails leaked on social media.In the memo announcing new guidelines for Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Utah workers, the fast food chain pointed to “the importance of customer service and the ability to show our Associates’ smiles and other facial features while considering the health and well-being of all individuals.”The policy, which goes into effect August 14, applies to all In-N-Out employees in those states, except for those who need to wear masks or other protective gear for job duties that require it, like painting. Employees could face disciplinary action, including being fired, if they do not comply, the the memo says.<a href="https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/guidance-for-face-coverings.aspx" target="_blank">California</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://osha.oregon.gov/OSHARules/adopted/2023/ao1-2023-text-temp-cov19-suspension.pdf" target="_blank">Oregon</a>&nbsp;both have laws in place preventing employers from banning masks.It is not the first time that the chain, based in California, has clashed with health experts over safety measures that were first put into place as deaths from COVID-19 skyrocketed during the pandemic. In October 2021, several In-N-Out locations in California&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-california-public-health-1e8d88a1360ac8756ebcdffa74499863" target="_blank">faced fines or were temporarily closed</a>&nbsp;because the burger chain refused to enforce COVID-19 vaccination rules.A company customer service representative confirmed the accuracy of the new mask guidelines with The Associated Press Wednesday. In-N-Out’s press contact did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The new guidelines are facing pushback from public health officials like infectious disease specialist Dr. Judy Stone.“Requiring a doctor’s note is also a burden in terms of time and money. Many people don’t have a primary care physician or one who is readily available,” Stone wrote in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/judystone/2023/07/17/in-n-out-burgers-new-masking-policy-threatens-their-employees-health/?sh=6fe75364909c" target="_blank">column for Forbes</a>&nbsp;this week. “And requiring proof of a disability might be considered a violation of the Americans with Disability Act, depending on how one interprets masking as a request for accommodation.”Stone also pointed to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — which notes that 6 in 10 adults have a chronic disease, increasing their risk for severe COVID-19.In-N-Out workers in California and Oregon also have new mask guidelines set to go into effect August 14, according to a separate leaked company memo. But in contrast to the other states, California and Oregon employees will still be able to choose to wear a mask in stores.Those masks must be a company-provided N-95 mask, the memo says — adding that employees who wish to wear different masks must provide “a valid medical note.”Both memos note that policies are subject to local health regulations, and that the company will continue to evaluate accommodation for its guidelines.

Masks are out at In-N-Out after burger chain bans employees from wearing them in five states

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/18/petition-drive-kicks-off-to-put-paid-sick-leave-on-nebraska-ballot/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689784854283.jpeg" alt="Jo Giles of the Women’s Fund of Omaha speaks during the kickoff of the Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans ballot initiative petition drive in South Omaha on Tuesday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jo Giles of the Women’s Fund of Omaha speaks during the kickoff of the Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans ballot initiative petition drive in South Omaha on Tuesday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/18/petition-drive-kicks-off-to-put-paid-sick-leave-on-nebraska-ballot/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — The 250,000 Nebraskans working full-time without paid sick days might soon have other choices than ignoring illness or sending sick kids to school to avoid missing a day’s pay.Local workers and advocates kicked off efforts Tuesday to gather signatures statewide for a ballot initiative that would require employers to provide a minimum of five to seven paid sick days for full-time employees, and some paid sick time off for the rest.Jo Giles, executive director of the Women’s Fund of Omaha, part of the new group Paid Sick Leave for Nebraskans, said too many workers, including many in service industries, get none.<h2>Which workers need help</h2>Paid sick leave is rarest for employees in restaurants, hotels, construction, manufacturing, warehousing, retail, educational support and transportation, the group said.The choices many workers face, especially working parents with young children, are “impossible,” Giles said. They either miss work and lose pay or keep going and risk getting others sick.The need is increasing for many Nebraskans, she said, as grandparents age and more workers are responsible for taking care of their children and parents at the same time.“No Nebraskans should have to choose between their paycheck and their health or the health of their family,” Giles said. “But thousands of Nebraskans don’t get any paid sick days.”<h2>Choosing her son or paying bills</h2>Hastings resident Sierra Edmisten, a single mother working in child care jobs and others, including retail, that didn’t offer paid sick leave, said she faced that choice when she learned that her son was going to be hospitalized for up to two weeks.“I broke into tears, not because he was going to be in the hospital, but because I was terrified of losing that amount of pay,” she said. “I didn’t know how I was going to pay my rent.”Edmiston’s son has a lung disease that requires numerous trips to the doctor, far from home, she said.She now has a job with paid sick time and said she can feel the difference physically. She said she feels less stressed and can focus more on her son. She wants others to have the same benefit.“This initiative offers a choice,” Edmisten said. “Together, we can close this gap that is scary and isolating for thousands of Nebraskans like me.”Her experience of having to decide between work and pay or health care and financial stress is something OneWorld Community Health Centers CEO Andrea Skolkin said she sees daily in the clinics her group operates.Too many people wait too long to seek medical care, she said.<h2>Businesses want more details</h2>Jennifer Creager, senior vice president of public policy at the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, said she and others in the local business community had been expecting a ballot measure one day but said the chamber needed more time to review the details. She spoke on behalf of the local and state chambers of commerce.“The bigger pushback is from some of our smaller members,” she said. “Some are just concerned about covering … the work that needs to be done, especially in a work environment like this, where the workforce is a challenge for every employer.”She said state and local chambers of commerce in Nebraska have been talking to their peers in Colorado, where voters recently passed an initiative requiring paid sick leave, and in Massachusetts, where state lawmakers adopted a similar measure.&nbsp;Creager noted that many businesses recognize the need for paid sick leave and already offer it. Business owners, she said, would prefer to be able to design sick leave programs that work for their business and their employees, without a “mandate.”“I think that would be employers’ preference in general,” she said.Craig Moody, a business owner who is also an Omaha Public Power District board member, said his experience shows that being good to employees by offering paid sick time can help recruit and retain better talent.<h2>Petition language spells out how it works</h2>The petition stipulates that temporary, part-time and full-time workers would earn an hour of sick time for every 30 hours worked.Businesses with fewer than 20 employees would be required to provide full-time employees with a minimum of five paid sick days per year. Larger businesses would have to provide at least seven. Part-time employees who work enough hours could reach the same amount.Organizers said the initiative is aimed at “setting a floor,” or minimum, for paid sick leave. They say it would not override negotiated union contracts or accrued leave. The bill would cover seasonal or agricultural workers if they worked the 30 hours to qualify for paid sick time, Giles later clarified.They did not disclose donors funding the effort. Giles said they expect a mix of grassroots local and national funding, much like the support for an initiative that was placed on the ballot and passed in 2022 to raise the minimum wage.<h2>Senator happy voters might have say</h2>State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who recently announced he is challenging U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., in a second bid for the 2nd Congressional District, attended the announcement and voiced support.Vargas was among state senators who tried for years, unsuccessfully, to pass legislation requiring a baseline of sick days. Opponents called the mandate burdensome, especially to small businesses.Vargas said small business owners and workers told senators during public hearings that people need financial freedom to make the best decisions for their families.&nbsp;“This is about giving an option so that people can earn this time, and they’re working,” he said. “It’s good for the economy. It’s good for families. It’s good for individuals.”