KANSAS CITY (AP) –Lottery players will have another shot at a huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackpot-lottery-mega-millions-ae5d629b1d4362a268bf490e40037852">Mega Millions jackpot</a>&nbsp;Friday night and a chance to break a stretch of more than three months without a big winner of the game.

The estimated $910 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.

The jackpot is now the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-10-us-lottery-jackpots-b24950a388d0a0f6544d2276956ff220">eighth-largest ever</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. It comes a little over a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">someone in Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. It's still a mystery who won that prize.

Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">1 in 302.6 million.</a>

The $910 million prize would be for a sole winner choosing to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">paid through an annuity</a>&nbsp;with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Friday night's drawing would be an estimated $464.2 million.

Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Island

KANSAS CITY (AP) –Lottery players will have another shot at a huge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jackpot-lottery-mega-millions-ae5d629b1d4362a268bf490e40037852">Mega Millions jackpot</a>&nbsp;Friday night and a chance to break a stretch of more than three months without a big winner of the game.The estimated $910 million prize has been building since someone last matched all six numbers and won the jackpot April 18. Since then, there have been 28 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.The jackpot is now the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/top-10-us-lottery-jackpots-b24950a388d0a0f6544d2276956ff220">eighth-largest ever</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. It comes a little over a week after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-winner-california-9f0e98a47c96c2b3087a68b33195dd50">someone in Los Angeles</a>&nbsp;won a $1.08 billion Powerball prize that ranked as the sixth-largest in U.S. history. It's still a mystery who won that prize.Lottery jackpots grow so large because the odds of winning are so small. For Mega Millions, the odds of winning the jackpot are about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-mega-millions-winning-odds-numbers-a3e5a8e8e7ed15d7500c1d6acdab6785">1 in 302.6 million.</a>The $910 million prize would be for a sole winner choosing to be&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99">paid through an annuity</a>&nbsp;with annual payments over 30 years. Jackpot winners almost always opt for a lump sum payment, which for Friday night's drawing would be an estimated $464.2 million.Winners also would be subject to federal taxes, while many states also tax lottery winnings.Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Island

The Mega Millions jackpot is now $910 million after months without a big winner

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/27/congressional-delegation-working-to-save-mobile-homes-from-removal/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A reprieve appears to be coming for trailer owners faced with removing their summer cabins from alongside two southwest Nebraska reservoirs.

After a group of about 20 people traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month, Nebraska’s congressional delegation pledged to introduce legislation that would allow about 181 mobile homes to remain at Swanson and Red Willow Reservoirs.

The legislation would transfer management of the two concession areas that hold the trailers from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the reservoirs, to Hitchcock County and Frontier County, where the two reservoirs are located.

The two county governments would negotiate leases with concessionaires at the two reservoirs, who, in turn, would manage leases with the trailer owners, allowing them to remain.

“Local, as opposed to federal control, is best, and community members have indicated they support transferring the land to the relevant county entities,” said Nathaniel Sizemore, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

Fischer, along with U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, met July 12 with about 20 southwest Nebraskans, who argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/08/upset-mobile-home-owners-seek-reprieve-from-federal-agencys-order-to-move-out/">removing the two trailer communities</a>&nbsp;would hurt local businesses and end a tradition of allowing the mobile homes that stretched back 50 years.

“It’s a win-win for sure, for us and the counties,” said Dawna Vap, whose family has operated the concession at Swanson Reservoir near Trenton, the Good Life Marina &amp; Restaurant, for 13 years.

The concessionaires currently lease their sites from the Bureau of Reclamation and manage leases with 110 trailer sites at Swanson and 71 at Red Willow.

The Bureau, as part of an improvement plan, had announced that the trailers needed to be removed by November 2024 to make way for construction of new campgrounds, rental cabins, playgrounds, picnic areas and walking trails.

Hitchcock County Commissioner Paul Nichols, who was among those who traveled to Washington, said that during summer months, the two trailer areas are among the largest “communities” in the area, pumping dollars into the local economy.

This week, Nichols said he was encouraged by the response of Nebraska’s congressional delegation.

At Swanson, he said, a transfer would involve Hitchcock County assuming management of about 19 acres of property.

Nichols said the county would receive a portion of the gross sales generated by the concessionaire — the portion that now goes to the Bureau. He said no county tax dollars would be expended.

The trailer owners and concessionaire would handle road maintenance, as in the past, Nichols said, adding that the county would need to adopt a process to award trailer lots if someone gave up a lease.

Frontier County would act in the same capacity with the concessionaire and the trailer area at Red Willow Reservoir.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission would continue to operate campgrounds at both reservoirs. Nichols said if the Bureau of Reclamation wanted to build new facilities, it still could.

&nbsp;“We have hundreds and hundreds of people who support us on this (land transfer),” he said.

Sizemore, the spokesman with Sen. Fischer, said that the entire Nebraska congressional delegation would work on the land transfer legislation. He did not have a timeline for when it would be introduced.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690484140138.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Swanson Reservoir is a 5,000-acre lake popular with fishermen and boaters near Trenton, in southwest Nebraska (Courtesy of Dawna Vap)&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Swanson Reservoir is a 5,000-acre lake popular with fishermen and boaters near Trenton, in southwest Nebraska (Courtesy of Dawna Vap)&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/27/congressional-delegation-working-to-save-mobile-homes-from-removal/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A reprieve appears to be coming for trailer owners faced with removing their summer cabins from alongside two southwest Nebraska reservoirs.After a group of about 20 people traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this month, Nebraska’s congressional delegation pledged to introduce legislation that would allow about 181 mobile homes to remain at Swanson and Red Willow Reservoirs.<h2>Counties would assume management</h2>The legislation would transfer management of the two concession areas that hold the trailers from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which owns the reservoirs, to Hitchcock County and Frontier County, where the two reservoirs are located.The two county governments would negotiate leases with concessionaires at the two reservoirs, who, in turn, would manage leases with the trailer owners, allowing them to remain.“Local, as opposed to federal control, is best, and community members have indicated they support transferring the land to the relevant county entities,” said Nathaniel Sizemore, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.Fischer, along with U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts and U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith, met July 12 with about 20 southwest Nebraskans, who argued that&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/08/upset-mobile-home-owners-seek-reprieve-from-federal-agencys-order-to-move-out/">removing the two trailer communities</a>&nbsp;would hurt local businesses and end a tradition of allowing the mobile homes that stretched back 50 years.<h2>A ‘win-win’</h2>“It’s a win-win for sure, for us and the counties,” said Dawna Vap, whose family has operated the concession at Swanson Reservoir near Trenton, the Good Life Marina &amp; Restaurant, for 13 years.The concessionaires currently lease their sites from the Bureau of Reclamation and manage leases with 110 trailer sites at Swanson and 71 at Red Willow.The Bureau, as part of an improvement plan, had announced that the trailers needed to be removed by November 2024 to make way for construction of new campgrounds, rental cabins, playgrounds, picnic areas and walking trails.But local officials balked at the plan.Hitchcock County Commissioner Paul Nichols, who was among those who traveled to Washington, said that during summer months, the two trailer areas are among the largest “communities” in the area, pumping dollars into the local economy.This week, Nichols said he was encouraged by the response of Nebraska’s congressional delegation.<h2>19 acres transferred at Swanson</h2>At Swanson, he said, a transfer would involve Hitchcock County assuming management of about 19 acres of property.Nichols said the county would receive a portion of the gross sales generated by the concessionaire — the portion that now goes to the Bureau. He said no county tax dollars would be expended.The trailer owners and concessionaire would handle road maintenance, as in the past, Nichols said, adding that the county would need to adopt a process to award trailer lots if someone gave up a lease.Frontier County would act in the same capacity with the concessionaire and the trailer area at Red Willow Reservoir.The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission would continue to operate campgrounds at both reservoirs. Nichols said if the Bureau of Reclamation wanted to build new facilities, it still could.&nbsp;“We have hundreds and hundreds of people who support us on this (land transfer),” he said.Sizemore, the spokesman with Sen. Fischer, said that the entire Nebraska congressional delegation would work on the land transfer legislation. He did not have a timeline for when it would be introduced.

Congressional delegation working to save mobile homes from removal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — For three decades, nobody knew for certain what happened to 12-year-old Jennifer Odom after she got off a school bus on a typical day in 1993. The girl was found dead in a Florida orange grove not long after.

Now, authorities in Hernando County say a DNA match has identified her killer as Jeffrey Norman Crum, 61, who is already serving two life sentences for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/pasco-sheriff-to-announce-arrest-in-1992-cold-case/2219199/">2015 sexual battery and attempted murder conviction</a>. State Attorney Bill Gladson said Thursday prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the Odom case.

“This is every parent's nightmare,” Gladson said at a news conference in Brooksville, a city of about 7,000 people roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Tampa. “I have confidence we have the right person and we have the right aggravators in this particular case to treat it as a death penalty case,”

A grand jury indicted Crum on first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges, Gladson added. It wasn't immediately clear if Crum had a lawyer to speak for him about the case.

Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said detectives never stopped working on the case even as the decades passed.

“I can tell you the investigation never stopped,” Nienhuis said.

On Feb. 19, 1993, the day she disappeared, Jennifer got off her school bus at around 3 p.m. in Pasco County, just south of Hernando County. She waved to her friends and began walking the roughly 200-yard (183-meter) distance to her home, but she never made it.

Children who were on the bus told investigators they saw a faded blue pickup truck slowly following Jennifer as she walked home. Six days after she disappeared, her body was found in an orange grove in Hernando County after a massive search that the media closely followed.

Crum has a violent crime history, including a 1981 robbery and a 1985 sexual battery case in Hillsborough County, according to court records.

“This is not someone who should be taken lightly,” Nienhuis said. “This is a bad guy who enjoyed violence.”

Nienhuis said DNA collected from Crum's past sexual battery case gave them the evidence they needed to charge him in Jennifer's killing.

“All of us, especially those of us in law enforcement, can think of Jennifer as our sister, our niece, our granddaughter and realize, man, this is a tragedy beyond tragedy,” Nienhuis said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690484274673.jpeg" alt="This photo released by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, shows Jeffrey Norman Crum, Wednesday, July 27, 2023, after his arrest. Crum, 61, who is already in prison serving a life sentence for sexual battery convictions, has been identified from DNA in the death of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom in 1993. (Hernando County Sheriff's Office via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This photo released by the Hernando County Sheriff's Office, shows Jeffrey Norman Crum, Wednesday, July 27, 2023, after his arrest. Crum, 61, who is already in prison serving a life sentence for sexual battery convictions, has been identified from DNA in the death of 12-year-old Jennifer Odom in 1993. (Hernando County Sheriff's Office via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Curt AndersonST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — For three decades, nobody knew for certain what happened to 12-year-old Jennifer Odom after she got off a school bus on a typical day in 1993. The girl was found dead in a Florida orange grove not long after.Now, authorities in Hernando County say a DNA match has identified her killer as Jeffrey Norman Crum, 61, who is already serving two life sentences for a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/pasco-sheriff-to-announce-arrest-in-1992-cold-case/2219199/">2015 sexual battery and attempted murder conviction</a>. State Attorney Bill Gladson said Thursday prosecutors will seek the death penalty in the Odom case.“This is every parent's nightmare,” Gladson said at a news conference in Brooksville, a city of about 7,000 people roughly 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Tampa. “I have confidence we have the right person and we have the right aggravators in this particular case to treat it as a death penalty case,”A grand jury indicted Crum on first-degree murder, kidnapping and sexual battery charges, Gladson added. It wasn't immediately clear if Crum had a lawyer to speak for him about the case.Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis said detectives never stopped working on the case even as the decades passed.“I can tell you the investigation never stopped,” Nienhuis said.On Feb. 19, 1993, the day she disappeared, Jennifer got off her school bus at around 3 p.m. in Pasco County, just south of Hernando County. She waved to her friends and began walking the roughly 200-yard (183-meter) distance to her home, but she never made it.Children who were on the bus told investigators they saw a faded blue pickup truck slowly following Jennifer as she walked home. Six days after she disappeared, her body was found in an orange grove in Hernando County after a massive search that the media closely followed.Crum has a violent crime history, including a 1981 robbery and a 1985 sexual battery case in Hillsborough County, according to court records.“This is not someone who should be taken lightly,” Nienhuis said. “This is a bad guy who enjoyed violence.”Nienhuis said DNA collected from Crum's past sexual battery case gave them the evidence they needed to charge him in Jennifer's killing.“All of us, especially those of us in law enforcement, can think of Jennifer as our sister, our niece, our granddaughter and realize, man, this is a tragedy beyond tragedy,” Nienhuis said.

Florida man serving life terms charged in 1993 killing of 12-year-old girl

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-indictment-miami-court-e9412bb71b63ab1b7cfb8e8b122e9809">investigation into his possession of classified documents</a>, according to an updated indictment unsealed Thursday that adds new charges against the former president and names an additional defendant.

The indictment includes new counts of obstruction and willful retention of national defense information, compounding Trump's legal jeopardy even as he braces for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-investigation-indictment-730455c2b7a684593e41362e4b661cb3">possible additional indictment in Washington</a>&nbsp;over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The additional counts underscore the extent of the yearlong investigation into Trump that first produced charges last month in the form of a 38-count indictment against Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-classified-f5a7b87bbb0234d5504d1c1f92bc857e">valet, Walt Nauta</a>.

A Trump spokesperson dismissed the new charges as “nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt” by the Biden administration “to harass President Trump and those around him” and to influence the 2024 presidential race.

The classified records were taken by Trump to Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House in January 2021.

The superseding indictment charges Trump with an additional count of willfully retaining national defense information relating to the former president discussing U.S. military plans to attack another country during an interview in July 2021 at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. The interview was for a memoir being written by his onetime chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who in his subsequent book named the country as Iran.

According to the indictment, Trump returned that document, which was marked as top secret and not approved to show to foreign nationals, to the federal government on Jan. 17. 2022.

It marks a notable shift in the prosecution’s approach to Trump’s case, charging him for retaining a document it alleges the former president knew was highly sensitive after he left office — and not just for failing to return it to the government when asked.

Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1661941600753.jpeg" alt="This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice on Aug. 30, 2022, and redacted by in part by the FBI, shows a photo of documents seized during the Aug. 2022 search by the FBI of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.&nbsp; (Department of Justice via AP)" />
 <figcaption>This image contained in a court filing by the Department of Justice on Aug. 30, 2022, and redacted by in part by the FBI, shows a photo of documents seized during the Aug. 2022 search by the FBI of former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.&nbsp; (Department of Justice via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the federal&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-classified-documents-indictment-miami-court-e9412bb71b63ab1b7cfb8e8b122e9809">investigation into his possession of classified documents</a>, according to an updated indictment unsealed Thursday that adds new charges against the former president and names an additional defendant.The indictment includes new counts of obstruction and willful retention of national defense information, compounding Trump's legal jeopardy even as he braces for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-investigation-indictment-730455c2b7a684593e41362e4b661cb3">possible additional indictment in Washington</a>&nbsp;over his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. The additional counts underscore the extent of the yearlong investigation into Trump that first produced charges last month in the form of a 38-count indictment against Trump and his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-justice-department-classified-f5a7b87bbb0234d5504d1c1f92bc857e">valet, Walt Nauta</a>.A Trump spokesperson dismissed the new charges as “nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt” by the Biden administration “to harass President Trump and those around him” and to influence the 2024 presidential race.The classified records were taken by Trump to Mar-a-Lago after he left the White House in January 2021.The superseding indictment charges Trump with an additional count of willfully retaining national defense information relating to the former president discussing U.S. military plans to attack another country during an interview in July 2021 at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. The interview was for a memoir being written by his onetime chief of staff, Mark Meadows, who in his subsequent book named the country as Iran.According to the indictment, Trump returned that document, which was marked as top secret and not approved to show to foreign nationals, to the federal government on Jan. 17. 2022.It marks a notable shift in the prosecution’s approach to Trump’s case, charging him for retaining a document it alleges the former president knew was highly sensitive after he left office — and not just for failing to return it to the government when asked.Both Trump and Nauta have pleaded not guilty.

New accusations against Donald Trump in classified documents case

NEW YORK (AP) — The explosion early on a June morning ignited a blaze that engulfed a New York City shop filled with motorized bicycles and their volatile lithium-ion batteries. Billowing smoke quickly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-ebike-store-fatal-fire-789d04a128a93160810743acf9c4f893">killed four people asleep in apartments</a>&nbsp;above the burning store.

As the ubiquity of e-bikes has grown, so has the frequency of fires and deaths blamed on the batteries that power them — prompting a campaign to establish regulations on how the batteries are manufactured, sold, reconditioned, charged and stored.

Consumer advocates and fire departments, particularly in New York City, are urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish mandatory safety standards and confiscate noncompliant imports when they arrive at the border or shipping ports, so unsafe e-bikes and poorly manufactured batteries don't reach streets and endanger homes.

These aren’t typical fires, said New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. The batteries don’t smolder; they explode.

“The number of fire incidents has rapidly increased. Other cities across the country have begun seeing these issues as well, and municipalities that are not yet experiencing this phenomenon may be facing similar incidents in the future," Kavanagh told the commission Thursday at a forum focused on e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries.

“We have reached a point of crisis in New York City, with ion batteries now a top cause of fatal fires in New York,” she told commissioners.

With some 65,000 e-bikes zipping through its streets — more than any other place in the U.S. — New York City is the epicenter of battery-related fires. There have been 100 such blazes so far this year, resulting in 13 deaths, already more than double the six fatalities last year.

Nationally, there were more than 200 battery-related fires reported to the commission — an obvious undercount — from 39 states over the past two years, including 19 deaths blamed on so-called micromobility devices that include battery-powered scooters, bicycles and hoverboards.

New York’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, introduced legislation last month that would set mandatory safety standards for e-bikes and the batteries that power them.

Because mandatory standards don't exist, Schumer said, poorly made batteries have flooded the U.S., increasing the risk of fires.

In many cases, authorities have been challenged to track the source of batteries from overseas sources, many of them bought online or from aftermarket dealers.

Earlier this year, New York City urgently enacted a sweeping package of local laws intended to crack down on defective batteries, including a ban on the sale or rental of e-bikes and batteries that aren’t certified as meeting safety standards by an independent product testing lab.

The new rules also outlaw tampering with batteries or selling refurbished batteries made with lithium-ion cells scavenged from used units.

Meanwhile, New York City officials also announced they had received a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebikes-batteries-fires-new-york-b8ef142a1afc280cf0d9fe3054efb4b3">$25 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;for e-bike charging stations across the city, which fire marshals hope will reduce the risk of fires.

“When they fail, they fail quite spectacularly,” Kavanagh said in interview last week. “Once one of these ignites, there is a huge volume of fire, often so much so that the person in their home can’t get out and the firefighters can’t get in to get them."

Such was the case in April when two siblings, a 7-year-old boy and his 19-year-old sister, died when a scooter battery ignited a fire in Queens.

Because of the fire hazard, some residential buildings have banned e-bikes. Last summer, the New York City Housing Authority sought to prohibit tenants in all of its 335 developments from keeping or charging e-vehicles in their units, only to back down a few months later after protests from delivery workers.

Use of motorized bicycles grew dramatically in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic as homebound people turned more to food delivery workers for meals and groceries.

With the rash of fires, delivery workers like Lizandro Lopez say they are now more mindful about precautions.

“As soon as the battery is charged, I disconnect it. You shouldn’t leave it charging for too long,” Lopez said in Spanish, “because if you leave it on there too long, that’s when you can cause a fire.”

Los Deliveristas Unidos, which represents app-based delivery workers in the New York area, estimates that fewer than 10% of e-bikes sold in the city have been deemed safe by a third-party evaluator, such as UL Solutions, a product testing company that certifies safety compliance for a host of electrical products, including Christmas lights and televisions.

E-bike batteries rely on the same chemistry to generate power as the lithium-ion batteries in cellphones, laptops and most electric vehicles — products that were initially prone to overheating.

Tighter regulations, safety standards and compliance testing drastically reduced the risk of fires in such devices, according to Robert Slone, the senior vice president and chief scientist for UL Solutions.

The same can happen with e-bike batteries, he said, if they are made to comply with established safety standards. One feature most of these batteries lack is the ability to automatically shut off while charging to prevent overheating.

“We just need to make them safe, and there is a way to make them safe through testing and certification," Slone said, “given the history that we’ve seen in terms of fires and injuries and unfortunately, deaths as well — not just in New York, but across the country and around the world.”

In London, the fire brigade says lithium batteries are the city’s fastest growing fire risk, with one fire erupting about every two days. Last year, there were a total of 116 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters. At least one death has been attributed this year to an overheated battery.

In San Francisco, there have been at least 21 battery fires so far this year — compared with just 13 battery-related fires in 2017, according to an analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle.

Last year, some 1.1 million e-bikes were imported into the U.S., according to the Light Electric Vehicle Association, an industry group. In 2021, more than 880,000 e-bikes came into the country — about double from the year before and triple the number in 2019.

Many of the batteries now on the road are aftermarket products that are cheaply made and popular with delivery workers because of their lower prices.

"But that product is so cheap because it hasn’t gone through those design and testing. ... It doesn’t meet a standard, so that’s why they’re inexpensive," said Matt Moore, the general and policy council for the PeopleForBikes Coalition, which will also take part in the forum. “Even if there was a regulation, there will still be the ability of foreign sellers and manufacturers to send these products into the United States.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690470655708.jpeg" alt="A biker stops to look at a pile of e-bikes in the aftermath of a fire in Chinatown, which authorities say started at an e-bike shop and spread to upper-floor apartments, Tuesday June 20, 2023, in New York. Federal officials are looking into cracking down on defective lithium-ion batteries that power hoverboards, scooters and motorized bicycles because of a rash of deadly fires caused by exploding batteries. The effort comes as New York City implements new laws meant to reduce the number of fires, injuries and deaths in a city where e-bikes have become ubiquitous. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)" />
 <figcaption>A biker stops to look at a pile of e-bikes in the aftermath of a fire in Chinatown, which authorities say started at an e-bike shop and spread to upper-floor apartments, Tuesday June 20, 2023, in New York. Federal officials are looking into cracking down on defective lithium-ion batteries that power hoverboards, scooters and motorized bicycles because of a rash of deadly fires caused by exploding batteries. The effort comes as New York City implements new laws meant to reduce the number of fires, injuries and deaths in a city where e-bikes have become ubiquitous. (AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Bobby Caina CalvanNEW YORK (AP) — The explosion early on a June morning ignited a blaze that engulfed a New York City shop filled with motorized bicycles and their volatile lithium-ion batteries. Billowing smoke quickly&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-ebike-store-fatal-fire-789d04a128a93160810743acf9c4f893">killed four people asleep in apartments</a>&nbsp;above the burning store.As the ubiquity of e-bikes has grown, so has the frequency of fires and deaths blamed on the batteries that power them — prompting a campaign to establish regulations on how the batteries are manufactured, sold, reconditioned, charged and stored.Consumer advocates and fire departments, particularly in New York City, are urging the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish mandatory safety standards and confiscate noncompliant imports when they arrive at the border or shipping ports, so unsafe e-bikes and poorly manufactured batteries don't reach streets and endanger homes.These aren’t typical fires, said New York City Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh. The batteries don’t smolder; they explode.“The number of fire incidents has rapidly increased. Other cities across the country have begun seeing these issues as well, and municipalities that are not yet experiencing this phenomenon may be facing similar incidents in the future," Kavanagh told the commission Thursday at a forum focused on e-bikes and lithium-ion batteries.“We have reached a point of crisis in New York City, with ion batteries now a top cause of fatal fires in New York,” she told commissioners.With some 65,000 e-bikes zipping through its streets — more than any other place in the U.S. — New York City is the epicenter of battery-related fires. There have been 100 such blazes so far this year, resulting in 13 deaths, already more than double the six fatalities last year.Nationally, there were more than 200 battery-related fires reported to the commission — an obvious undercount — from 39 states over the past two years, including 19 deaths blamed on so-called micromobility devices that include battery-powered scooters, bicycles and hoverboards.New York’s two U.S. senators, Democrats Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, introduced legislation last month that would set mandatory safety standards for e-bikes and the batteries that power them.Because mandatory standards don't exist, Schumer said, poorly made batteries have flooded the U.S., increasing the risk of fires.In many cases, authorities have been challenged to track the source of batteries from overseas sources, many of them bought online or from aftermarket dealers.Earlier this year, New York City urgently enacted a sweeping package of local laws intended to crack down on defective batteries, including a ban on the sale or rental of e-bikes and batteries that aren’t certified as meeting safety standards by an independent product testing lab.The new rules also outlaw tampering with batteries or selling refurbished batteries made with lithium-ion cells scavenged from used units.Meanwhile, New York City officials also announced they had received a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ebikes-batteries-fires-new-york-b8ef142a1afc280cf0d9fe3054efb4b3">$25 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;for e-bike charging stations across the city, which fire marshals hope will reduce the risk of fires.“When they fail, they fail quite spectacularly,” Kavanagh said in interview last week. “Once one of these ignites, there is a huge volume of fire, often so much so that the person in their home can’t get out and the firefighters can’t get in to get them."Such was the case in April when two siblings, a 7-year-old boy and his 19-year-old sister, died when a scooter battery ignited a fire in Queens.Because of the fire hazard, some residential buildings have banned e-bikes. Last summer, the New York City Housing Authority sought to prohibit tenants in all of its 335 developments from keeping or charging e-vehicles in their units, only to back down a few months later after protests from delivery workers.Use of motorized bicycles grew dramatically in the city during the COVID-19 pandemic as homebound people turned more to food delivery workers for meals and groceries.With the rash of fires, delivery workers like Lizandro Lopez say they are now more mindful about precautions.“As soon as the battery is charged, I disconnect it. You shouldn’t leave it charging for too long,” Lopez said in Spanish, “because if you leave it on there too long, that’s when you can cause a fire.”Los Deliveristas Unidos, which represents app-based delivery workers in the New York area, estimates that fewer than 10% of e-bikes sold in the city have been deemed safe by a third-party evaluator, such as UL Solutions, a product testing company that certifies safety compliance for a host of electrical products, including Christmas lights and televisions.E-bike batteries rely on the same chemistry to generate power as the lithium-ion batteries in cellphones, laptops and most electric vehicles — products that were initially prone to overheating.Tighter regulations, safety standards and compliance testing drastically reduced the risk of fires in such devices, according to Robert Slone, the senior vice president and chief scientist for UL Solutions.The same can happen with e-bike batteries, he said, if they are made to comply with established safety standards. One feature most of these batteries lack is the ability to automatically shut off while charging to prevent overheating.“We just need to make them safe, and there is a way to make them safe through testing and certification," Slone said, “given the history that we’ve seen in terms of fires and injuries and unfortunately, deaths as well — not just in New York, but across the country and around the world.”In London, the fire brigade says lithium batteries are the city’s fastest growing fire risk, with one fire erupting about every two days. Last year, there were a total of 116 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters. At least one death has been attributed this year to an overheated battery.In San Francisco, there have been at least 21 battery fires so far this year — compared with just 13 battery-related fires in 2017, according to an analysis by the San Francisco Chronicle.Last year, some 1.1 million e-bikes were imported into the U.S., according to the Light Electric Vehicle Association, an industry group. In 2021, more than 880,000 e-bikes came into the country — about double from the year before and triple the number in 2019.Many of the batteries now on the road are aftermarket products that are cheaply made and popular with delivery workers because of their lower prices."But that product is so cheap because it hasn’t gone through those design and testing. ... It doesn’t meet a standard, so that’s why they’re inexpensive," said Matt Moore, the general and policy council for the PeopleForBikes Coalition, which will also take part in the forum. “Even if there was a regulation, there will still be the ability of foreign sellers and manufacturers to send these products into the United States.”

As e-bikes proliferate, so do deadly fires blamed on exploding lithium-ion batteries

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-commission-to-consider-increase-in-nebraska-park-entry-fees/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Visiting a Nebraska state park or recreation area would be more expensive under a proposal to be considered next week.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is proposing to increase the annual park entry permit for residents from $30 to $35. The daily permit would rise from $6 to $7 beginning Jan. 1.

The governing board of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider the increase at its Aug. 4 meeting in Valentine.

Under the proposal, nonresidents would pay $70 for an annual park-entry permit, up from the current $60, with a daily permit increasing from $12 to $14.

According to the Game and Parks annual report for 2022, sales of park stickers totaled $8.68 million that year, which was about 8% of the agency’s total revenue. The top two revenue sources that year were camping/lodging fees and hunting licenses, which generated nearly $17 million each.

Sales of park entry permits were down about 11% in 2022, which the agency blamed on inflation and high fuel costs that summer. 2021 was also the year people flocked to state parks and other outdoor areas that were not closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690470493573.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Fort Robinson State Park, a popular spot for family reunions, horseback riding and hiking, is located in the scenic Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. (Dave Sands/Nebraska Land Trust)&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Fort Robinson State Park, a popular spot for family reunions, horseback riding and hiking, is located in the scenic Pine Ridge region of northwest Nebraska. (Dave Sands/Nebraska Land Trust)&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-commission-to-consider-increase-in-nebraska-park-entry-fees/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Visiting a Nebraska state park or recreation area would be more expensive under a proposal to be considered next week.The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is proposing to increase the annual park entry permit for residents from $30 to $35. The daily permit would rise from $6 to $7 beginning Jan. 1.The governing board of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider the increase at its Aug. 4 meeting in Valentine.<h2>Nonresidents would pay more, too</h2>Under the proposal, nonresidents would pay $70 for an annual park-entry permit, up from the current $60, with a daily permit increasing from $12 to $14.According to the Game and Parks annual report for 2022, sales of park stickers totaled $8.68 million that year, which was about 8% of the agency’s total revenue. The top two revenue sources that year were camping/lodging fees and hunting licenses, which generated nearly $17 million each.Sales of park entry permits were down about 11% in 2022, which the agency blamed on inflation and high fuel costs that summer. 2021 was also the year people flocked to state parks and other outdoor areas that were not closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

State commission to consider increase in Nebraska park entry fees

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/26/pillen-touts-school-funding-during-petition-fight-over-tax-credit-for-private-k-12-scholarships/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Officially, Gov. Jim Pillen said he held a news conference Wednesday to celebrate the state’s first investments toward a pledged $1 billion Education Future Fund.&nbsp;

Unofficially, Pillen highlighted these new investments in public education during a battle over a petition effort to stop Nebraska’s new tax credit that was established for those funding scholarships for children attending private K-12 schools.

Pillen and other supporters of the tax credits contained in Legislative Bill 753 are pushing back against efforts by the Nebraska State Education Association and public school supporters to label the program a long-term threat to funding for public schools.

“That’s not true at all,” Pillen said about public school funding. “We have added through this priority funding $305 million more in education funding. … The Opportunity Scholarship (Act) is $25 million off the top of state funding through a tax credit.”&nbsp;

Asked to clarify, Pillen said, “That money comes off the top line of the budget of six and a half billion dollars of revenue from the state. It has no tie-in with education at all.”

The Education Future Fund pledges $1,500 in baseline state aid to every public school district, including smaller, often rural districts that had received little or no state funding. The fund also pledges state funding to supplement available federal dollars to pick up 80% of K-12 special education costs.&nbsp;

The NSEA and Support Our Schools Nebraska have argued that this new funding from the state, while welcome, is not guaranteed to continue to build to the pledged $1 billion amount, nor is it guaranteed to last through the next economic downturn.

They point to the Legislature’s own fiscal estimate for the impact of LB 753, which predicts state aid could decrease by nearly $12 million if students transfer from certain aid-receiving public school districts to private schools.

This Opportunity Scholarship program offers donors dollar-for-dollar tax credits of up to $100,000 a year for individuals and corporations and up to $1 million a year for estates and trusts.

The new tax credit caps the total revenue that can be claimed at $25 million annually for the first three years. The total could rise by the tenth year to $100 million a year. Opponents have argued this threatens the pool of funding for public schools. Defenders of the law say the same could be argued of any tax credit.

Jenni Benson, president of the NSEA, argued that public school costs would not necessarily decrease because 20 Lincoln or Omaha or Norfolk kids leave their public school to attend a private one. And she said other states have started with tax credits on the way to voucher programs.

“They say this isn’t tax money, but it is,” Benson said. “The general fund funds public education. … It will affect public school funding because it has to if it continues to grow.”

Pillen, asked after the news conference about the assertion that the tax credit for scholarships is a first step toward shifting public money toward private schools, said that the tax credit for scholarships program poses no threat.

Minutes later, he recorded a short cell phone video with Walter Blanks Jr. of American Federation for Children, which has bankrolled school choice in Nebraska and other states, said, “In Nebraska, it’s time to fund students.” Blanks then said, “Not systems.” The federation is backed by local and national school choice donors including former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.

In response to a question Wednesday, Pillen said voters can decide if they want to sign the petition and where they stand on LB 753. Still, he said he hopes they will support the legislation, because they elected the senators who passed it.

He said voters would not put his $1 billion pledge for the Education Future Fund or support for state aid to K-12 in jeopardy if they reject the Opportunity Scholarships law.

Keep Kids First, a group trying to persuade Nebraskans not to sign the petition, argues that Nebraska was one of the last two states nationally to approve a law offering a form of school choice.

Keep Kids First and Support Our Schools&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/20/accusations-fly-in-petition-fight-over-tax-credit-for-private-school-scholarships/">accused one another last week</a>&nbsp;of misleading the public about what the initiative petition would do. Essentially, it would put the future of LB 753 on the general election ballot in 2024. Support Our Schools&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/05/pricey-spending-race-underway-to-allow-or-block-voter-referendum-on-new-school-choice-law/">receives much of its funding</a>&nbsp;from the National Education Association and the NSEA.

Representatives of both organizations have said that they do not intentionally spread misinformation, though each offered video examples of circulators or petition blockers offering inaccurate information to people considering signing a petition.

Circulators have until Aug. 30 to submit roughly 61,000 valid signatures of registered voters. Petition drive organizers often gather tens of thousands more than they need, in case signatures are rejected during the verification process.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690469753737.jpeg" alt=" Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, at the podium, and State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood speak about the state’s first investments toward a $1 billion pledge to build an Education Future Fund. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, at the podium, and State Sen. Rob Clements of Elmwood speak about the state’s first investments toward a $1 billion pledge to build an Education Future Fund. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/26/pillen-touts-school-funding-during-petition-fight-over-tax-credit-for-private-k-12-scholarships/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Officially, Gov. Jim Pillen said he held a news conference Wednesday to celebrate the state’s first investments toward a pledged $1 billion Education Future Fund.&nbsp;Unofficially, Pillen highlighted these new investments in public education during a battle over a petition effort to stop Nebraska’s new tax credit that was established for those funding scholarships for children attending private K-12 schools.Pillen and other supporters of the tax credits contained in Legislative Bill 753 are pushing back against efforts by the Nebraska State Education Association and public school supporters to label the program a long-term threat to funding for public schools.“That’s not true at all,” Pillen said about public school funding. “We have added through this priority funding $305 million more in education funding. … The Opportunity Scholarship (Act) is $25 million off the top of state funding through a tax credit.”&nbsp;Asked to clarify, Pillen said, “That money comes off the top line of the budget of six and a half billion dollars of revenue from the state. It has no tie-in with education at all.”<h2>Education Future Fund</h2>The Education Future Fund pledges $1,500 in baseline state aid to every public school district, including smaller, often rural districts that had received little or no state funding. The fund also pledges state funding to supplement available federal dollars to pick up 80% of K-12 special education costs.&nbsp;The NSEA and Support Our Schools Nebraska have argued that this new funding from the state, while welcome, is not guaranteed to continue to build to the pledged $1 billion amount, nor is it guaranteed to last through the next economic downturn.They point to the Legislature’s own fiscal estimate for the impact of LB 753, which predicts state aid could decrease by nearly $12 million if students transfer from certain aid-receiving public school districts to private schools.This Opportunity Scholarship program offers donors dollar-for-dollar tax credits of up to $100,000 a year for individuals and corporations and up to $1 million a year for estates and trusts.The new tax credit caps the total revenue that can be claimed at $25 million annually for the first three years. The total could rise by the tenth year to $100 million a year. Opponents have argued this threatens the pool of funding for public schools. Defenders of the law say the same could be argued of any tax credit.<h2>Path to vouchers?</h2>Jenni Benson, president of the NSEA, argued that public school costs would not necessarily decrease because 20 Lincoln or Omaha or Norfolk kids leave their public school to attend a private one. And she said other states have started with tax credits on the way to voucher programs.“They say this isn’t tax money, but it is,” Benson said. “The general fund funds public education. … It will affect public school funding because it has to if it continues to grow.”Pillen, asked after the news conference about the assertion that the tax credit for scholarships is a first step toward shifting public money toward private schools, said that the tax credit for scholarships program poses no threat.Minutes later, he recorded a short cell phone video with Walter Blanks Jr. of American Federation for Children, which has bankrolled school choice in Nebraska and other states, said, “In Nebraska, it’s time to fund students.” Blanks then said, “Not systems.” The federation is backed by local and national school choice donors including former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos.In response to a question Wednesday, Pillen said voters can decide if they want to sign the petition and where they stand on LB 753. Still, he said he hopes they will support the legislation, because they elected the senators who passed it.He said voters would not put his $1 billion pledge for the Education Future Fund or support for state aid to K-12 in jeopardy if they reject the Opportunity Scholarships law.<h2>Groups jousting over truth</h2>Keep Kids First, a group trying to persuade Nebraskans not to sign the petition, argues that Nebraska was one of the last two states nationally to approve a law offering a form of school choice.Keep Kids First and Support Our Schools&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/20/accusations-fly-in-petition-fight-over-tax-credit-for-private-school-scholarships/">accused one another last week</a>&nbsp;of misleading the public about what the initiative petition would do. Essentially, it would put the future of LB 753 on the general election ballot in 2024. Support Our Schools&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/05/pricey-spending-race-underway-to-allow-or-block-voter-referendum-on-new-school-choice-law/">receives much of its funding</a>&nbsp;from the National Education Association and the NSEA.Representatives of both organizations have said that they do not intentionally spread misinformation, though each offered video examples of circulators or petition blockers offering inaccurate information to people considering signing a petition.Circulators have until Aug. 30 to submit roughly 61,000 valid signatures of registered voters. Petition drive organizers often gather tens of thousands more than they need, in case signatures are rejected during the verification process.

Pillen touts school funding during petition fight over tax credit for private K-12 scholarships

The University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Foundation have successfully secured the funds necessary to qualify for the state match funding of $15 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence, university officials announced this week.

“With their continued investments in cancer research, the Nebraska philanthropic community has shown once again that they are unmatched in their vision and generosity toward this state,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of UNMC. “Through their support, the medical center’s history of impactful public/private partnerships continues. Our goal is a cure for pancreatic cancer, and this support sets us strongly on that path.”

The state match funding will enable campus leadership to build systems and programs of international significance and reputation; recruit world-class physicians and scientists, including those in immunobiology, cancer metabolism and bioinformatics; and pioneer novel projects in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pancreas cancer.&nbsp;

Dr. Gold thanked the members of the Nebraska Legislature, especially former state Sen. Mark Kolterman, for their support of UNMC’s efforts.&nbsp; Kolterman was a legislative champion for the legislation – later signed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts – for the matching state funds.

Sen. Kolterman, whose wife, Suzanne, died of pancreatic cancer in 2017, said the match was “wonderful news.”

With the support from the state and the community, he said, UNMC has put the right people in the right positions, pointing to leaders such as Sunil Hingorani, MD, PhD, the&nbsp;Nancy Armitage Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research Presidential Chair&nbsp;and director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence; Tony Hollingsworth, PhD, the Hugh &amp; Jane Hunt Chair in Cancer Research at the Eppley Institute; and Kelsey Klute, MD, associate professor of hematology/oncology at UNMC and medical director for the Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic at Nebraska Medicine.

“We can make a difference,” Sen. Kolterman said, pointing to the medical center’s top researchers and clinicians. “Nebraska is going to be on the cutting edge of a cure or an early detection method, that is the most important thing. We have the best of the best on our team.”

Dr. Hingorani, who became&nbsp;the Nancy Armitage Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research Presidential Chair and the first director of the center in 2022,&nbsp;said the center’s goal is nothing short of a complete transformation of what is considered “state of the art” for the early detection, chemoprevention and treatment of this devastating disease.

“The funds provided by the state of Nebraska,&nbsp; as well as the generous contributions of community leaders and philanthropists who have been touched by this disease, makes a powerful statement about the aspirations and the expectations of the leadership of this state and its people for the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence,” he said.

Although the medical center already provides the highest level of cancer care in Nebraska, Dr. Hingorani said, “the unprecedented scale of this extraordinary partnership between the public and private sectors in the state now sets the bar even higher, making clear that ‘good’ is not ‘good enough’ when greatness is within reach.”

Kenneth Cowan, MD, PhD, director of the Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, also expressed his appreciation.

“We are grateful for this support which will enable our pancreatic cancer research team to develop new therapies for patients across the state and beyond,” Dr. Cowan said.

As evidence the center’s efforts already are attracting national attention, Dr. Hingorani pointed to recognition earlier this year by the&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/TjblCn5AGQf3vKgS9Bx3w?domain=pancreasfoundation.org/" target="_blank">National</a><a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/TjblCn5AGQf3vKgS9Bx3w?domain=pancreasfoundation.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Pancreas Foundation</a>&nbsp;for both outstanding clinical care and scientific innovation, as well as&nbsp;the Canopy Collective Learning Health Network’s naming of the center as a member site for superior multidisciplinary patient care.

“The Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center houses one of the first and largest in the nation early detection and surveillance programs for patients at high risk of developing pancreas cancer, the first rapid autopsy program in the country for pancreas cancer patients, and also boasts deep experience in basic science discovery for this disease,” he said. “The challenge now is to unify these efforts and integrate them into a larger, coordinated program with the defined goal of finding a cure.

The gifts to the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence were made as part of&nbsp;Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

UNMCThe University of Nebraska Medical Center, Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Foundation have successfully secured the funds necessary to qualify for the state match funding of $15 million for the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence, university officials announced this week.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690465936354.jpeg" alt="Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center photo courtesy of UNMC" />
 <figcaption>Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center photo courtesy of UNMC</figcaption>
 </figure>“With their continued investments in cancer research, the Nebraska philanthropic community has shown once again that they are unmatched in their vision and generosity toward this state,” said Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, chancellor of UNMC. “Through their support, the medical center’s history of impactful public/private partnerships continues. Our goal is a cure for pancreatic cancer, and this support sets us strongly on that path.”The state match funding will enable campus leadership to build systems and programs of international significance and reputation; recruit world-class physicians and scientists, including those in immunobiology, cancer metabolism and bioinformatics; and pioneer novel projects in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pancreas cancer.&nbsp;Dr. Gold thanked the members of the Nebraska Legislature, especially former state Sen. Mark Kolterman, for their support of UNMC’s efforts.&nbsp; Kolterman was a legislative champion for the legislation – later signed by then-Gov. Pete Ricketts – for the matching state funds.Sen. Kolterman, whose wife, Suzanne, died of pancreatic cancer in 2017, said the match was “wonderful news.”With the support from the state and the community, he said, UNMC has put the right people in the right positions, pointing to leaders such as Sunil Hingorani, MD, PhD, the&nbsp;Nancy Armitage Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research Presidential Chair&nbsp;and director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence; Tony Hollingsworth, PhD, the Hugh &amp; Jane Hunt Chair in Cancer Research at the Eppley Institute; and Kelsey Klute, MD, associate professor of hematology/oncology at UNMC and medical director for the Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic at Nebraska Medicine.“We can make a difference,” Sen. Kolterman said, pointing to the medical center’s top researchers and clinicians. “Nebraska is going to be on the cutting edge of a cure or an early detection method, that is the most important thing. We have the best of the best on our team.”Dr. Hingorani, who became&nbsp;the Nancy Armitage Pancreas Cancer Clinical Research Presidential Chair and the first director of the center in 2022,&nbsp;said the center’s goal is nothing short of a complete transformation of what is considered “state of the art” for the early detection, chemoprevention and treatment of this devastating disease.“The funds provided by the state of Nebraska,&nbsp; as well as the generous contributions of community leaders and philanthropists who have been touched by this disease, makes a powerful statement about the aspirations and the expectations of the leadership of this state and its people for the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence,” he said.Although the medical center already provides the highest level of cancer care in Nebraska, Dr. Hingorani said, “the unprecedented scale of this extraordinary partnership between the public and private sectors in the state now sets the bar even higher, making clear that ‘good’ is not ‘good enough’ when greatness is within reach.”Kenneth Cowan, MD, PhD, director of the Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, also expressed his appreciation.“We are grateful for this support which will enable our pancreatic cancer research team to develop new therapies for patients across the state and beyond,” Dr. Cowan said.As evidence the center’s efforts already are attracting national attention, Dr. Hingorani pointed to recognition earlier this year by the&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/TjblCn5AGQf3vKgS9Bx3w?domain=pancreasfoundation.org/" target="_blank">National</a><a href="https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/TjblCn5AGQf3vKgS9Bx3w?domain=pancreasfoundation.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;Pancreas Foundation</a>&nbsp;for both outstanding clinical care and scientific innovation, as well as&nbsp;the Canopy Collective Learning Health Network’s naming of the center as a member site for superior multidisciplinary patient care.“The Fred &amp; Pamela Buffett Cancer Center houses one of the first and largest in the nation early detection and surveillance programs for patients at high risk of developing pancreas cancer, the first rapid autopsy program in the country for pancreas cancer patients, and also boasts deep experience in basic science discovery for this disease,” he said. “The challenge now is to unify these efforts and integrate them into a larger, coordinated program with the defined goal of finding a cure.“The best is yet to come.”The gifts to the Pancreatic Cancer Center of Excellence were made as part of&nbsp;Only in Nebraska: A Campaign for Our University’s Future, a historic effort to engage at least 150,000 benefactors to give $3 billion to support the University of Nebraska. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

State to match $15 million in funding for fight against pancreatic cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds.

McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”

The Kentucky senator then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.

He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After sitting down in his office for several minutes, McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press.

McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He was hospitalized for several days, and his office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has sounded more halting in recent weeks, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health.

When he returned to answer questions, McConnell said he was “fine.” Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, “Yeah.”

McConnell's office declined to say whether he was seen by a doctor after the episode.

After the press conference, Barrasso told reporters he “wanted to make sure everything was fine” and walked McConnell down the hall to his office.

Barrasso said he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, “and I continue to be concerned.”

But asked about his particular concerns, Barrasso said: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he's made a remarkable recovery, he's doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”

Walking out of his office Wednesday evening, McConnell again told reporters he was fine. He said President Joe Biden had called him.

“The president called to check up on me, and I told him I got sandbagged,” McConnell joked, referencing a quote from Biden in June after he tripped over a sandbag and fell while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.

First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in January. He was easily reelected to his leadership post that same month, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott.

Still, several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace him.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed McConnell, told reporters after the episode, “I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader.”

McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery.

The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks midsentence and staring off into space for several seconds.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appears to have a health issue while speaking during a press conference in the U.S. Capitol. About 12 minutes later, the Minority Leader returned to the press conference and, when asked about what happened, said, &quot;I&#39;m fine.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/EU7zDzGT0m">pic.twitter.com/EU7zDzGT0m</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1684278322098761728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 26, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill on the floor, which he said was proceeding with “good bipartisan cooperation.” But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off with a drawn-out “uh.”The Kentucky senator then appeared to freeze up and stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him and could not see his face, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.He did not answer, but slowly walked back to his office with an aide and Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, a former orthopedic surgeon who is the No. 3 Republican in the Senate. After sitting down in his office for several minutes, McConnell later returned to the press conference and answered questions from the press.McConnell, 81, was out of the Senate for almost six weeks earlier this year after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He was hospitalized for several days, and his office later said he suffered a concussion and fractured a rib. His speech has sounded more halting in recent weeks, prompting questions among some of his colleagues about his health.When he returned to answer questions, McConnell said he was “fine.” Asked if he is still able to do his job, he said, “Yeah.”McConnell's office declined to say whether he was seen by a doctor after the episode.After the press conference, Barrasso told reporters he “wanted to make sure everything was fine” and walked McConnell down the hall to his office.Barrasso said he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, “and I continue to be concerned.”But asked about his particular concerns, Barrasso said: “I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he's made a remarkable recovery, he's doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today.”Walking out of his office Wednesday evening, McConnell again told reporters he was fine. He said President Joe Biden had called him.“The president called to check up on me, and I told him I got sandbagged,” McConnell joked, referencing a quote from Biden in June after he tripped over a sandbag and fell while onstage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.First elected to the Senate in 1984, McConnell became the longest-serving Senate party leader in history in January. He was easily reelected to his leadership post that same month, despite a challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott.Still, several Republicans, including No. 2 Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota and Barrasso, are seen as waiting in the wings to someday replace him.Texas Sen. John Cornyn, who is also seen as a potential candidate to succeed McConnell, told reporters after the episode, “I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader.”McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery.The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression.

🎥 GOP Senate leader has health scare during presser; says he’s ‘fine’

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday faced off with Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, who did not directly call for his impeachment but strongly criticized his oversight of the agency.

“I know that today Secretary Mayorkas is going to try to paint a rosy picture of this disastrous mismanagement of our border. But nothing about the Biden administration’s policy is safe, orderly, or humane,” Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said. “The numbers don’t lie.”

House Republicans have held multiple hearings about immigration at the Southern border as part of their broader strategy to impeach Mayorkas on the grounds that he has failed to enforce U.S. law. Multiple impeachment resolutions have been introduced and co-sponsored by dozens of Republicans.

House GOP members have also floated the idea of impeaching President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. During an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, suggested that House Republicans could be headed toward impeachment hearings for Biden.

On Tuesday, McCarthy again floated the idea that impeachment of Biden could be considered in light of questions Republicans are raising about Biden family finances,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-impeachment-mccarthy-hannity-78e4c7efeb030b29e1576f868257179b">The Associated Press reported.</a>

Democrats spent much of the five-hour-plus Judiciary hearing pushing back against Republicans’ claims about migration at the U.S. Southern border and defending DHS practices.

The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said Republicans used the hearing as a “baseless attempt to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.”

“To be clear, Republicans have not established any legitimate grounds to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, they’ve not uncovered evidence of wrongdoing or malfeasance of any kind,” Nadler said. “They have policy disagreements with this secretary.”

Mayorkas argued that the Biden administration’s policies at the border are working to deter unauthorized immigration, citing the use of parole programs for certain nationals and a new policy established after the end of pandemic-era immigration enforcement tool known as Title 42 that restricts asylum.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-blocks-biden-rule-limits-asylum-migrants-border">A federal judge Tuesday blocked that policy</a>, and the Department of Justice has appealed the decision.

“Under President Biden’s leadership, we have led the largest expansion of lawful, safe and orderly pathways for people to seek humanitarian relief under our laws, at the same time imposing tougher consequences on those who instead resort to the ruthless smuggling organizations that prey on the most vulnerable,” Mayorkas said.

There has been a decline in recent months in unauthorized border crossings, with the most recent data from May showing a 15% decrease compared to May 2022, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-may-2023-monthly-operational-update">U.S. Customs and Border Protection data</a>

Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania said that each day hundreds of people die from overdoses, with a majority of those from illicit fentanyl. Mayorkas said that DHS has focused on seizing fentanyl at ports of entry.

“We have a serious problem,” Dean said. “We don’t have folks on the other side of the aisle serious about solving it.”

The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates">found</a>&nbsp;that deaths “involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 70,601 overdose deaths reported in 2021.”

“We are leading an unprecedented effort to interdict the flow of fentanyl into our communities, which has escalated for more than five years,” Mayorkas said.

Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado told Mayorkas that his constituents consider Mayorkas a “traitor” because of the fentanyl crisis.

Republican Rep. Thomas Tiffany of Wisconsin accused Mayorkas of having an “open border policy,” and asked him if that has led to an increase in fentanyl in the U.S.

“We have interdicted more fentanyl at the ports of entry than in the prior administration,” Mayorkas said, adding that there is not an open border policy.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jordan grilled Mayorkas on his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/guidelines-civilimmigrationlaw.pdf">directive</a>&nbsp;that focuses on removing undocumented people with a criminal record.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/23/us-supreme-court-turns-down-push-by-states-to-challenge-biden-deportation-policy/">The Supreme Court in June overwhelmingly agreed</a>&nbsp;that the Biden administration has the legal authority to prioritize arresting and deporting noncitizens who have recently crossed the border without authorization and noncitizens who pose a threat to public safety.

“So long as you don’t commit a crime, you get to stay here and burden our schools, burden our social services, burden our jails,” Gaetz said.

Mayorkas said because there are anywhere between 11 and 12 million undocumented people in the country, it would not be feasible for the agency to focus its resources on deporting people who have not committed a crime. He added that the agency has deported more than 1.4 million people who did not have legal status.

Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia pushed back and said that “MAGA Republican extremists want to sell us on an apocalyptic fantasy,” and “want us to believe that the border is out of control.”

“But in reality, the greatest threat facing our homeland is white nationalist ideology,” Johnson said.

Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina asked Mayokras if under his tenure the cartels have “become stronger or weaker.”

“Our efforts have weakened those cartels by the investigations and prosecutions that we have conducted with our international partners,” he said.

Democrats argued that there is only so much that DHS can do, because Congress has failed to update immigration laws.

“Our colleagues across the aisle have made clear with their tone and questions today that their primary interest is in scapegoating you and the Biden administration for the consequences of Congress failing for decades to address either the root causes of immigration at our Southern border … and (the) all but complete collapse of the U.S. immigration system,” Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania said.

Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington said with the issues Mayorkas inherited from the Trump administration and Congress’ inability to pass immigration reform, it’s led to record levels of backlogs in the immigration system.

She asked Mayorkas about the impact of expanding legal pathways such as the parole systems that allow up to 30,000 migrants each month from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua who have U.S.-based financial sponsors and pass a background check.

“Our approach is to expand lawful pathways so that individuals who qualify for relief under the laws of this Congress do not have to place their lives and their life savings in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers,” Mayorkas said.

Several Republicans such as Reps. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Thomas Massie of Kentucky pressed Mayorkas about the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

CISA was formed in 2018. The agency is tasked with improving the government’s cybersecurity against private and foreign hackers, along with overall strengthening of the government’s cyber infrastructure across all agencies.

Johnson charged that CISA suppresses speech online, mainly that of conservative voices. He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-limits-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms-in-censorship-case/">cited a case</a>&nbsp;filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt,in which a federal judge earlier this month prohibited the Biden administration from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech.”

Mayorkas said the agency does not “censor free speech,” and that the purpose of the CISA is to identify and track adverse nations that weaponize disinformation, which is when someone purposely spreads false information.

Massie asked Mayorkas if it was illegal to “undermine public trust in government institutions.”

Mayorkas said that DHS does not get involved in speech surrounding ideology, only if that ideology is connected to violence. He said the agency does evaluate certain ideologies.

“What we get engaged in is a connectivity to violence,” he said. “It is our responsibility to prevent violence from occurring.”

An example he gave was the c<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8576388/">onspiracy theory that 5G cell towers</a>&nbsp;were connected to the coronavirus. DHS became involved and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/dhs-to-advise-telecom-firms-on-preventing-5g-cell-tower-attacks-linked-to-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories/2020/05/13/6aa9eaa6-951f-11ea-82b4-c8db161ff6e5_story.html">issued warnings to the telecom industry</a>&nbsp;because they believed there could be attacks to cell towers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690419772316.png" alt=" Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies on Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. (Screenshot from committee webcast)" />
 <figcaption> Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies on Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee. (Screenshot from committee webcast)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday faced off with Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee, who did not directly call for his impeachment but strongly criticized his oversight of the agency.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Sen. <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RogerMarshallMD</a> calls out Joe Biden and Alejandro Mayorkas for fueling the worst border crisis in U.S. history, and for their complete refusal to secure the border. <a href="https://t.co/OwTzV4tjWA">pic.twitter.com/OwTzV4tjWA</a>&mdash; GOP (@GOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/GOP/status/1682435857649737728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“I know that today Secretary Mayorkas is going to try to paint a rosy picture of this disastrous mismanagement of our border. But nothing about the Biden administration’s policy is safe, orderly, or humane,” Chair Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, said. “The numbers don’t lie.”House Republicans have held multiple hearings about immigration at the Southern border as part of their broader strategy to impeach Mayorkas on the grounds that he has failed to enforce U.S. law. Multiple impeachment resolutions have been introduced and co-sponsored by dozens of Republicans.House GOP members have also floated the idea of impeaching President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland. During an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Monday, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican, suggested that House Republicans could be headed toward impeachment hearings for Biden.On Tuesday, McCarthy again floated the idea that impeachment of Biden could be considered in light of questions Republicans are raising about Biden family finances,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-impeachment-mccarthy-hannity-78e4c7efeb030b29e1576f868257179b">The Associated Press reported.</a>Democrats spent much of the five-hour-plus Judiciary hearing pushing back against Republicans’ claims about migration at the U.S. Southern border and defending DHS practices.The top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said Republicans used the hearing as a “baseless attempt to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.”“To be clear, Republicans have not established any legitimate grounds to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, they’ve not uncovered evidence of wrongdoing or malfeasance of any kind,” Nadler said. “They have policy disagreements with this secretary.”Mayorkas argued that the Biden administration’s policies at the border are working to deter unauthorized immigration, citing the use of parole programs for certain nationals and a new policy established after the end of pandemic-era immigration enforcement tool known as Title 42 that restricts asylum.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/federal-judge-blocks-biden-rule-limits-asylum-migrants-border">A federal judge Tuesday blocked that policy</a>, and the Department of Justice has appealed the decision.“Under President Biden’s leadership, we have led the largest expansion of lawful, safe and orderly pathways for people to seek humanitarian relief under our laws, at the same time imposing tougher consequences on those who instead resort to the ruthless smuggling organizations that prey on the most vulnerable,” Mayorkas said.There has been a decline in recent months in unauthorized border crossings, with the most recent data from May showing a 15% decrease compared to May 2022, according to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/cbp-releases-may-2023-monthly-operational-update">U.S. Customs and Border Protection data</a><h2>Fentanyl crisis</h2>Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania said that each day hundreds of people die from overdoses, with a majority of those from illicit fentanyl. Mayorkas said that DHS has focused on seizing fentanyl at ports of entry.“We have a serious problem,” Dean said. “We don’t have folks on the other side of the aisle serious about solving it.”The National Center for Health Statistics at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates">found</a>&nbsp;that deaths “involving synthetic opioids other than methadone (primarily fentanyl) continued to rise with 70,601 overdose deaths reported in 2021.”“We are leading an unprecedented effort to interdict the flow of fentanyl into our communities, which has escalated for more than five years,” Mayorkas said.Republican Rep. Ken Buck of Colorado told Mayorkas that his constituents consider Mayorkas a “traitor” because of the fentanyl crisis.Republican Rep. Thomas Tiffany of Wisconsin accused Mayorkas of having an “open border policy,” and asked him if that has led to an increase in fentanyl in the U.S.“We have interdicted more fentanyl at the ports of entry than in the prior administration,” Mayorkas said, adding that there is not an open border policy.<h2>Outdated immigration system</h2>Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida and Jordan grilled Mayorkas on his&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ice.gov/doclib/news/guidelines-civilimmigrationlaw.pdf">directive</a>&nbsp;that focuses on removing undocumented people with a criminal record.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/23/us-supreme-court-turns-down-push-by-states-to-challenge-biden-deportation-policy/">The Supreme Court in June overwhelmingly agreed</a>&nbsp;that the Biden administration has the legal authority to prioritize arresting and deporting noncitizens who have recently crossed the border without authorization and noncitizens who pose a threat to public safety.“So long as you don’t commit a crime, you get to stay here and burden our schools, burden our social services, burden our jails,” Gaetz said.Mayorkas said because there are anywhere between 11 and 12 million undocumented people in the country, it would not be feasible for the agency to focus its resources on deporting people who have not committed a crime. He added that the agency has deported more than 1.4 million people who did not have legal status.Democratic Rep. Hank Johnson of Georgia pushed back and said that “MAGA Republican extremists want to sell us on an apocalyptic fantasy,” and “want us to believe that the border is out of control.”“But in reality, the greatest threat facing our homeland is white nationalist ideology,” Johnson said.Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina asked Mayokras if under his tenure the cartels have “become stronger or weaker.”“Our efforts have weakened those cartels by the investigations and prosecutions that we have conducted with our international partners,” he said.Democrats argued that there is only so much that DHS can do, because Congress has failed to update immigration laws.“Our colleagues across the aisle have made clear with their tone and questions today that their primary interest is in scapegoating you and the Biden administration for the consequences of Congress failing for decades to address either the root causes of immigration at our Southern border … and (the) all but complete collapse of the U.S. immigration system,” Democratic Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon of Pennsylvania said.Democratic Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington said with the issues Mayorkas inherited from the Trump administration and Congress’ inability to pass immigration reform, it’s led to record levels of backlogs in the immigration system.She asked Mayorkas about the impact of expanding legal pathways such as the parole systems that allow up to 30,000 migrants each month from Cuba, Haiti and Nicaragua who have U.S.-based financial sponsors and pass a background check.“Our approach is to expand lawful pathways so that individuals who qualify for relief under the laws of this Congress do not have to place their lives and their life savings in the hands of unscrupulous smugglers,” Mayorkas said.<h2>Questions about speech online</h2>Several Republicans such as Reps. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Thomas Massie of Kentucky pressed Mayorkas about the DHS Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.CISA was formed in 2018. The agency is tasked with improving the government’s cybersecurity against private and foreign hackers, along with overall strengthening of the government’s cyber infrastructure across all agencies.Johnson charged that CISA suppresses speech online, mainly that of conservative voices. He&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/briefs/judge-limits-biden-administration-contact-with-social-media-platforms-in-censorship-case/">cited a case</a>&nbsp;filed by former Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt,in which a federal judge earlier this month prohibited the Biden administration from communicating with social media platforms about “protected speech.”Mayorkas said the agency does not “censor free speech,” and that the purpose of the CISA is to identify and track adverse nations that weaponize disinformation, which is when someone purposely spreads false information.Massie asked Mayorkas if it was illegal to “undermine public trust in government institutions.”Mayorkas said that DHS does not get involved in speech surrounding ideology, only if that ideology is connected to violence. He said the agency does evaluate certain ideologies.“What we get engaged in is a connectivity to violence,” he said. “It is our responsibility to prevent violence from occurring.”An example he gave was the c<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8576388/">onspiracy theory that 5G cell towers</a>&nbsp;were connected to the coronavirus. DHS became involved and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/dhs-to-advise-telecom-firms-on-preventing-5g-cell-tower-attacks-linked-to-coronavirus-conspiracy-theories/2020/05/13/6aa9eaa6-951f-11ea-82b4-c8db161ff6e5_story.html">issued warnings to the telecom industry</a>&nbsp;because they believed there could be attacks to cell towers.

Biden border policies ripped by U.S. House GOP; impeachment threats ramp up 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7227512231fa206da624f813455c2f0b">unidentified flying objects</a>, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.

(Click below to watch a replay of the hearing)

Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-government-and-congress-4234f7cd9379fa1cc4ffd3cf8d5b230a">latest foray into the world of UAPs</a>&nbsp;— or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries.

Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-government-and-politics-f5f24502d97072fd4bef34b6fe36c81d">the head of a government task force on UAPs</a>&nbsp;to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force's mission. At the time, Grusch was detailed to the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency that operates U.S. spy satellites.

“I was informed in the course of my official duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access,” he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690402316208.jpeg" alt="An audience member wears a UFO pin during a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing on UFOs, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)" />
 <figcaption>An audience member wears a UFO pin during a House Oversight and Accountability subcommittee hearing on UFOs, Wednesday, July 26, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Nathan Howard)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Nomaan MerchantWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7227512231fa206da624f813455c2f0b">unidentified flying objects</a>, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims.(Click below to watch a replay of the hearing)<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KQ7Dw-739VY?start=1197" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-government-and-congress-4234f7cd9379fa1cc4ffd3cf8d5b230a">latest foray into the world of UAPs</a>&nbsp;— or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs. While the study of mysterious aircraft or objects often evokes talk of aliens and “little green men,” Democrats and Republicans in recent years have pushed for more research as a national security matter due to concerns that sightings observed by pilots may be tied to U.S. adversaries.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690390765039.png" alt="Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-government-and-congress-4234f7cd9379fa1cc4ffd3cf8d5b230a">latest foray into the world of UAPs</a>&nbsp;— or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs.-image House Oversight Committee" />
 <figcaption>Retired Maj. David Grusch's highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress'&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-government-and-congress-4234f7cd9379fa1cc4ffd3cf8d5b230a">latest foray into the world of UAPs</a>&nbsp;— or “unidentified aerial phenomena," which is the official term the U.S. government uses instead of UFOs.-image House Oversight Committee</figcaption>
 </figure>Grusch said he was asked in 2019 by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-government-and-politics-f5f24502d97072fd4bef34b6fe36c81d">the head of a government task force on UAPs</a>&nbsp;to identify all highly classified programs relating to the task force's mission. At the time, Grusch was detailed to the National Reconnaissance Office, the agency that operates U.S. spy satellites.“I was informed in the course of my official duties of a multi-decade UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program to which I was denied access,” he said.Asked whether the U.S. government had information about extraterrestrial life, Grusch said the U.S. likely has been aware of “non-human” activity since the 1930s.The Pentagon has denied Grusch's claims of a coverup. In a statement, Defense Department spokeswoman Sue Gough said investigators have not discovered “any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently.” The statement did not address UFOs that are not suspected of being extraterrestrial objects.Grusch says he became a government whistleblower after his discovery and has faced retaliation for coming forward. He declined to be more specific about the retaliatory tactics, citing an ongoing investigation.“It was very brutal and very unfortunate, some of the tactics they used to hurt me both professionally and personally,” he said.Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., chaired the panel's hearing and joked to a packed audience, “Welcome to the most exciting subcommittee in Congress this week.”There was bipartisan interest in Grusch’s claims and a more sober tone than other recent hearings featuring whistleblowers celebrated by Republicans and criticized by Democrats. Lawmakers in both parties asked Grusch about his study of UFOs and the consequences he faced and how they could find out more about the government’s UAP programs.“I take it that you’re arguing what we need is real transparency and reporting systems so we can get some clarity on what’s going on out there,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.Some lawmakers criticized the Pentagon for not providing more details in a classified briefing or releasing images that could be shown to the public. In previous hearings,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-politics-government-and-congress-4234f7cd9379fa1cc4ffd3cf8d5b230a">Pentagon officials showed</a>&nbsp;a video taken from an F-18 military plane that showed an image of one balloon-like shape.Pentagon officials in December said they had received “several hundreds” of new reports since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/7227512231fa206da624f813455c2f0b">launching a renewed effort</a>&nbsp;to investigate reports of UFOs.At that point, “we have not seen anything, and we’re still very early on, that would lead us to believe that any of the objects that we have seen are of alien origin,” said Ronald Moultrie, the undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security. “Any unauthorized system in our airspace we deem as a threat to safety.”