By JOHNATHAN HETTINGER <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/10/13/epa-to-ban-flea-and-tick-collars-linked-to-brain-damage-in-children/">Investigate Midwest</a>

The popular Seresto flea and tick collar will remain on the market, but with new mitigation measures,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/pets/seresto-pet-collar-review">the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week.</a>

The EPA announced the measures on the collar after a multi-year analysis of the product’s safety. The agency limited the approval of the collar to five years and required Elanco — the manufacturer of Seresto — to conduct enhanced reporting for adverse events, conduct additional outreach to the veterinary community, and put new warnings on the collar’s label, among other changes.

Elanco — which bought the entire Bayer Animal Health unit, including Seresto, from the German pharmaceutical giant in 2020 for $7.6 billion — praised the announcement.

“Adverse events reports are simply reports that must be investigated and do not indicate causation. We believe today’s decision by the EPA further reinforces that,” said Colleen Dekker, an Elanco spokeswoman in an email. “We greatly appreciate the EPA’s diligence in this comprehensive review, including the consultation with FDA, along with the many veterinarians and experts that have weighed in with their experiences and support of the product.”

The EPA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/04/08/epa-is-asked-to-ban-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-linked-to-pet-injuries/">launched the review in April 2021</a>, just one month after reporting by Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY showed that Seresto has been the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/03/24/seresto-epa-fda-elanco/">subject of more complaints about pet harm and deaths than any other product in EPA history</a>.

“EPA’s scientific review of Seresto-related incident reports identified the need for more detailed incident reporting and public outreach,” the agency said in a press release.

The EPA, which worked with the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the analysis, said that they were unable to get enough information from data that Elanco submitted to determine whether Seresto played a role in most death reports. Earlier this year, the agencies proposed transferring all regulation of pet pesticide products to the FDA.

“During the review of the reported cases of potential deaths associated with the collar the agency found that critical details of incidents were often missing from case narratives, often preventing the agency from determining the cause of the incident,” the press release said.

Elanco agreed to the changes prior to the EPA making the announcement on Thursday.

In a press release, Elanco described the steps as a “stewardship program” and encouraged the EPA “to implement these measures as a new EPA standard across all flea and tick collars to ensure consistent expectations for reporting across the category.” The release, also released Thursday, quoted veterinarians who praised the decision as well.

“We appreciate EPA’s diligence during this data-driven review process, resulting in a clear outcome and continued product availability to protect pets and human health,” said Dr. Ellen de Brabander, executive vice president of innovation and regulatory affairs at Elanco, in the press release. “We stand behind more than a decade of science-based data, analysis and monitoring which affirms the safety profile of Seresto.”

Lori Ann Burd, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s environmental health program, said the EPA denying the nonprofit’s petition to cancel Seresto was disappointing, but said she was heartened that the EPA took some action.

“I think EPA would not have taken these measures if this product was as safe as has been claimed by the registrant. Actions like limiting the registration to five years and splitting it between dogs and cats are important steps toward protecting people and their pets from Seresto collars,” Burd said in an interview with Investigate Midwest. “Elanco had to agree to this. That’s a big deal.”

The EPA’s scientific analysis looked at Seresto incident reports and also compared those to other products from Elanco.

The analysis found that the most reported adverse effect for dogs was pruritus (itchy skin) and that was reported in 54% of the incident cases of the 49,000 the EPA reviewed. This was followed by lethargy and anorexia, each of which was reported in approximately 10% of cases.

For cats, application site hair change was most commonly reported in 32% of the 16,000 cases it reviewed, followed by lesions and pruritus, each of which was reported in approximately 25% of cases.

“More severe clinical signs (for example, convulsions) were reported much less frequently and appeared to be similar across the three Elanco products that were compared,” the analysis found.

On pet deaths, the EPA said in its analysis it needed more information than was collected in most instances.

“Where sufficient details were provided, there were no cases where high confidence existed in a correlation between the collar use and the death, often due to confounding factors such as concurrent medical conditions. In addition, the rate of deaths reported, based on the comparative statistical analyses performed, was similar between Seresto and other available pet products,” the analysis said.

This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2023/07/14/epa-rules-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-seresto-stays-on-the-market-but-with-added-mitigations/">Investigate Midwest</a>, a nonprofit, online newsroom offering investigative and enterprise coverage of agribusiness, Big Ag and related issues through data analysis, visualizations, in-depth reports and interactive web tools.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689626848974.png" alt="The EPA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/04/08/epa-is-asked-to-ban-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-linked-to-pet-injuries/">launched the review in April 2021</a>, just one month after reporting by Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY showed that Seresto has been the&nbsp;subject of more complaints about pet harm and deaths than any other product in EPA history." />
 <figcaption>The EPA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/04/08/epa-is-asked-to-ban-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-linked-to-pet-injuries/">launched the review in April 2021</a>, just one month after reporting by Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY showed that Seresto has been the&nbsp;subject of more complaints about pet harm and deaths than any other product in EPA history.</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHNATHAN HETTINGER <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/10/13/epa-to-ban-flea-and-tick-collars-linked-to-brain-damage-in-children/">Investigate Midwest</a>The popular Seresto flea and tick collar will remain on the market, but with new mitigation measures,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.epa.gov/pets/seresto-pet-collar-review">the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week.</a>The EPA announced the measures on the collar after a multi-year analysis of the product’s safety. The agency limited the approval of the collar to five years and required Elanco — the manufacturer of Seresto — to conduct enhanced reporting for adverse events, conduct additional outreach to the veterinary community, and put new warnings on the collar’s label, among other changes.Elanco — which bought the entire Bayer Animal Health unit, including Seresto, from the German pharmaceutical giant in 2020 for $7.6 billion — praised the announcement.“Adverse events reports are simply reports that must be investigated and do not indicate causation. We believe today’s decision by the EPA further reinforces that,” said Colleen Dekker, an Elanco spokeswoman in an email. “We greatly appreciate the EPA’s diligence in this comprehensive review, including the consultation with FDA, along with the many veterinarians and experts that have weighed in with their experiences and support of the product.”The EPA&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2021/04/08/epa-is-asked-to-ban-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-linked-to-pet-injuries/">launched the review in April 2021</a>, just one month after reporting by Investigate Midwest and USA TODAY showed that Seresto has been the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2022/03/24/seresto-epa-fda-elanco/">subject of more complaints about pet harm and deaths than any other product in EPA history</a>.“EPA’s scientific review of Seresto-related incident reports identified the need for more detailed incident reporting and public outreach,” the agency said in a press release.The EPA, which worked with the Food and Drug Administration to conduct the analysis, said that they were unable to get enough information from data that Elanco submitted to determine whether Seresto played a role in most death reports. Earlier this year, the agencies proposed transferring all regulation of pet pesticide products to the FDA.“During the review of the reported cases of potential deaths associated with the collar the agency found that critical details of incidents were often missing from case narratives, often preventing the agency from determining the cause of the incident,” the press release said.The full mitigation measures include:<ul>
 <li>A time-limited registration of five years that will expire on July 13, 2028. Elanco must apply for continued use at least a year before that date. Normally, pesticides have a 15-year approval by EPA.</li><li>Elanco must submit enhanced incident reports and sales information annually.</li><li>Elanco must submit an annual report, similar to an FDA Annual Periodic Drug Experience Report, that will provide an update on stewardship efforts and analyze safety information collected about Seresto.</li><li>Elanco must develop training materials for adverse effects and report on these efforts in July 2024.</li><li>Elanco must develop and implement an outreach initiative to the veterinary community to inform them about risks and benefits associated with use of pesticides in pet products and the importance of reporting adverse effects. Elanco must report on these efforts in July 2024.</li><li>Elanco must review the release mechanism of the collar to assess the risk of strangulation.</li><li>The EPA split Seresto into two registrations, one for cats and another for dogs, to help make a comparison of incident data easier.</li><li>Elanco must also add label warnings that show common adverse effects and instructions to remove the collar if effects occur. These include skin issues, as well as behavioral and neurological issues. The label will now tell consumers to remove the collar if those symptoms occur and to report them to EPA.</li>
 </ul>Elanco agreed to the changes prior to the EPA making the announcement on Thursday.In a press release, Elanco described the steps as a “stewardship program” and encouraged the EPA “to implement these measures as a new EPA standard across all flea and tick collars to ensure consistent expectations for reporting across the category.” The release, also released Thursday, quoted veterinarians who praised the decision as well.“We appreciate EPA’s diligence during this data-driven review process, resulting in a clear outcome and continued product availability to protect pets and human health,” said Dr. Ellen de Brabander, executive vice president of innovation and regulatory affairs at Elanco, in the press release. “We stand behind more than a decade of science-based data, analysis and monitoring which affirms the safety profile of Seresto.”Lori Ann Burd, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s environmental health program, said the EPA denying the nonprofit’s petition to cancel Seresto was disappointing, but said she was heartened that the EPA took some action.“I think EPA would not have taken these measures if this product was as safe as has been claimed by the registrant. Actions like limiting the registration to five years and splitting it between dogs and cats are important steps toward protecting people and their pets from Seresto collars,” Burd said in an interview with Investigate Midwest. “Elanco had to agree to this. That’s a big deal.”The EPA’s scientific analysis looked at Seresto incident reports and also compared those to other products from Elanco.The analysis found that the most reported adverse effect for dogs was pruritus (itchy skin) and that was reported in 54% of the incident cases of the 49,000 the EPA reviewed. This was followed by lethargy and anorexia, each of which was reported in approximately 10% of cases.For cats, application site hair change was most commonly reported in 32% of the 16,000 cases it reviewed, followed by lesions and pruritus, each of which was reported in approximately 25% of cases.“More severe clinical signs (for example, convulsions) were reported much less frequently and appeared to be similar across the three Elanco products that were compared,” the analysis found.On pet deaths, the EPA said in its analysis it needed more information than was collected in most instances.“Where sufficient details were provided, there were no cases where high confidence existed in a correlation between the collar use and the death, often due to confounding factors such as concurrent medical conditions. In addition, the rate of deaths reported, based on the comparative statistical analyses performed, was similar between Seresto and other available pet products,” the analysis said.This story was originally published by&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2023/07/14/epa-rules-popular-flea-and-tick-collar-seresto-stays-on-the-market-but-with-added-mitigations/">Investigate Midwest</a>, a nonprofit, online newsroom offering investigative and enterprise coverage of agribusiness, Big Ag and related issues through data analysis, visualizations, in-depth reports and interactive web tools.

EPA rules popular flea collar stays on the market, with more reporting requirements

July 18, 2023 (Lincoln, Neb.) — For city, county and municipality officials, applying for federal funding for local infrastructure projects can be a complex process. That’s why the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s (NDOT) is hosting the first-ever Transportation Summit that will provide the necessary education and insight for local officials to confidently apply for federal discretionary grants.&nbsp;

This free, one-day event will be held on August 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Younes Conference Center (North) in Kearney, Neb. NDOT, joined by the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) and the Nebraska League of Municipalities, will be providing educational sessions to learn about how to develop high-quality, competitive discretionary grant applications for the Bipartisan Infrastructure law (BIL) grant opportunities. This will include key aspects of grant writing, identifying relevant roles and responsibilities in the grant development process, and much more.&nbsp;

Speakers at the event will include experts from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NDOT, and other partners with grant writing experience. General topics will include: &nbsp;

• Infrastructure/transportation funding available to local agencies&nbsp;

• Keys to competitive grant applications&nbsp;

• What to do in advance of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) being issued • What to do after a NOFO is issued&nbsp;

There will also be in-depth sessions, including “Tools for Grant Development,” which will provide step by-step guidelines to complete and submit a successful grant application. Information about post awards will also be provided.&nbsp;

To register for this free educational summit, go to go.unl.edu/transportationsummit. Registration ends on August 9. Be informed and empowered to succeed!&nbsp;

Nebraska Department of TransportationJuly 18, 2023 (Lincoln, Neb.) — For city, county and municipality officials, applying for federal funding for local infrastructure projects can be a complex process. That’s why the Nebraska Department of Transportation’s (NDOT) is hosting the first-ever Transportation Summit that will provide the necessary education and insight for local officials to confidently apply for federal discretionary grants.&nbsp;This free, one-day event will be held on August 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Younes Conference Center (North) in Kearney, Neb. NDOT, joined by the Nebraska Association of County Officials (NACO) and the Nebraska League of Municipalities, will be providing educational sessions to learn about how to develop high-quality, competitive discretionary grant applications for the Bipartisan Infrastructure law (BIL) grant opportunities. This will include key aspects of grant writing, identifying relevant roles and responsibilities in the grant development process, and much more.&nbsp;Speakers at the event will include experts from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), NDOT, and other partners with grant writing experience. General topics will include: &nbsp;• Infrastructure/transportation funding available to local agencies&nbsp;• Keys to competitive grant applications&nbsp;• What to do in advance of a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) being issued • What to do after a NOFO is issued&nbsp;• Federal requirements&nbsp;• Broadband&nbsp;There will also be in-depth sessions, including “Tools for Grant Development,” which will provide step by-step guidelines to complete and submit a successful grant application. Information about post awards will also be provided.&nbsp;To register for this free educational summit, go to go.unl.edu/transportationsummit. Registration ends on August 9. Be informed and empowered to succeed!&nbsp;

NDOT to Host First-Ever Transportation Summit August 23 in Kearney

JULY 18, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have conducted tobacco compliance checks in Lancaster County.

On Friday, July 14, investigators conducted tobacco compliance checks at 28 businesses in Lincoln. Three of those businesses sold tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age for a compliance rate of 89 percent.

Clerks who sell tobacco to a person under 21 are cited. This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State PatrolJULY 18, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Investigators with the Nebraska State Patrol have conducted tobacco compliance checks in Lancaster County.On Friday, July 14, investigators conducted tobacco compliance checks at 28 businesses in Lincoln. Three of those businesses sold tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age for a compliance rate of 89 percent.Clerks who sell tobacco to a person under 21 are cited. This effort was made possible thanks in part to grant funding from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA.

Tobacco Compliance Checks Held in Lancaster County

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-attorney-general-pushes-against-expansion-of-federal-reproductive-health-privacy/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to provide context of congressional efforts to tighten the regulation of health information privacy.

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers last month joined nearly 20 state attorneys general in signing a letter opposing a proposed federal rule change for reproductive health privacy.

In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/657773029-Mississippi-AG-opposes-reproductive-care-privacy-rule.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;dated June 16, the group, led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, urged Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to drop a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/17/2023-07517/hipaa-privacy-rule-to-support-reproductive-health-care-privacy">proposed modification</a>&nbsp;of HIPAA’s Privacy Rule.&nbsp;

The change would prohibit the use and disclosure of protected health information —&nbsp;including reproductive health —&nbsp;“for a criminal, civil or administrative investigation or proceedings” against those who lawfully provided care, such as across state lines.

Nearly 50 Democratic and independent members of Congress also<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/07/18/nearly-50-congressional-democrats-urge-tighter-regulations-protecting-medical-records/">urged</a>Beccera in a Tuesday letter for his department to tighten regulations protecting health information privacy.

The attorneys general wrote that the Biden administration has pushed a “false narrative” that states are treating pregnant women as “criminals” or punishing medical personnel for providing lifesaving care.

“Based on this lie, the Administration has sought to wrest control over abortion back from the people in defiance of the Constitution and Dobbs,” the letter reads, citing the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case originating from Mississippi that overturned constitutional protections for abortion.

The attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah also joined the letter, as did Texas’ provisional attorney general.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/34705/mississippi-attorney-general-wants-info-on-out-of-state-abortions-gender-affirming-care">Mississippi Free Press</a>&nbsp;on Friday was the first to report on the letter.

The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office emailed a statement Tuesday saying the comment letter “protects the status quo” and the balance of power between federal and state governments.

“Nothing in the proposed rule justifies upending settled law and creating a carve-out for abortion,” the statement reads.

Scout Richters, senior legal and policy counsel for the ACLU of Nebraska, said there is a “simple and chilling motivation behind this letter: keeping the door open for criminalizing people who seek abortions or gender-related care beyond state lines.”

“Whatever Attorney General Hilgers and this letter’s cosigners might say, it is not the government’s job to interfere with or investigate these personal and private matters,” Richters said in a statement. “These additional protections are desperately needed.”

The ACLU submitted a June 16&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ACLU-Comment-on-HIPAA-Privacy-Rule-NPRM-06.16.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;— the deadline for comments on the proposed rule — in favor of the proposed change, stating the current rule doesn’t offer “sufficient protections.”

“Undermining privacy protections in health care leads to a breakdown in trust between providers and patients, and to adverse health outcomes,” the letter reads.

The ACLU in its letter encouraged the DHHS to interpret the proposal’s protections broadly, allow it to go into effect quickly and take steps to ensure protections are widely implemented. It also suggested explicitly limiting the definition of “public health” to exclude investigations relating to the access of lawful care.

While the proposed rule is focused on abortion and reproductive care, the attorneys general point to an expanded definition of reproductive care accompanying the proposed rule — “health care related to reproductive organs, regardless of whether the health care is related to an individual’s pregnancy or whether the individual is of reproductive age.”

The attorneys general said the definition is “buried” in the Health Department’s gloss of the proposed rule “without explanation or analysis.”

“Given its far-reaching and radical approach to transgender issues, the Administration may intend to use the proposed rule to obstruct state laws concerning experimental gender-transition procedures for minors (such as puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgical interventions),” the attorneys general write.

A federal judge in Arkansas&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/23/nebraska-lawmakers-respond-to-arkansas-court-decision-striking-gender-care-law/">struck down</a>&nbsp;a ban on gender-affirming care for youths last month, writing that the care is not experimental.&nbsp;

Nebraska&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricted gender-affirming care for minors and banned most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age, is being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">challenged</a>&nbsp;in Lancaster County District Court for allegedly violating the state’s single subject rule.

The ACLU’s comment letter on the proposed change explains that criminal bans on gender care for transgender youths “[chill] individuals’ willingness to access necessary care, even where legal, out of fear that doing so may expose them to potential criminal liability.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689780455345.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks at a news conference celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block President Joe Biden’s proposed one-time student debt relief program on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers speaks at a news conference celebrating the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to block President Joe Biden’s proposed one-time student debt relief program on Friday, June 30, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-attorney-general-pushes-against-expansion-of-federal-reproductive-health-privacy/">Nebraska Examiner</a> Editor’s note: This article has been updated to provide context of congressional efforts to tighten the regulation of health information privacy.LINCOLN —&nbsp;Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers last month joined nearly 20 state attorneys general in signing a letter opposing a proposed federal rule change for reproductive health privacy.In a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/657773029-Mississippi-AG-opposes-reproductive-care-privacy-rule.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;dated June 16, the group, led by Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, urged Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to drop a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/04/17/2023-07517/hipaa-privacy-rule-to-support-reproductive-health-care-privacy">proposed modification</a>&nbsp;of HIPAA’s Privacy Rule.&nbsp;The change would prohibit the use and disclosure of protected health information —&nbsp;including reproductive health —&nbsp;“for a criminal, civil or administrative investigation or proceedings” against those who lawfully provided care, such as across state lines.Nearly 50 Democratic and independent members of Congress also<a target="_blank" href="https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2023/07/18/nearly-50-congressional-democrats-urge-tighter-regulations-protecting-medical-records/">urged</a>Beccera in a Tuesday letter for his department to tighten regulations protecting health information privacy.The attorneys general wrote that the Biden administration has pushed a “false narrative” that states are treating pregnant women as “criminals” or punishing medical personnel for providing lifesaving care.“Based on this lie, the Administration has sought to wrest control over abortion back from the people in defiance of the Constitution and Dobbs,” the letter reads, citing the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court case originating from Mississippi that overturned constitutional protections for abortion.The attorneys general of Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah also joined the letter, as did Texas’ provisional attorney general.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.mississippifreepress.org/34705/mississippi-attorney-general-wants-info-on-out-of-state-abortions-gender-affirming-care">Mississippi Free Press</a>&nbsp;on Friday was the first to report on the letter.<h2>Health care privacy</h2>The Nebraska Attorney General’s Office emailed a statement Tuesday saying the comment letter “protects the status quo” and the balance of power between federal and state governments.“Nothing in the proposed rule justifies upending settled law and creating a carve-out for abortion,” the statement reads.Scout Richters, senior legal and policy counsel for the ACLU of Nebraska, said there is a “simple and chilling motivation behind this letter: keeping the door open for criminalizing people who seek abortions or gender-related care beyond state lines.”“Whatever Attorney General Hilgers and this letter’s cosigners might say, it is not the government’s job to interfere with or investigate these personal and private matters,” Richters said in a statement. “These additional protections are desperately needed.”The ACLU submitted a June 16&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ACLU-Comment-on-HIPAA-Privacy-Rule-NPRM-06.16.pdf">letter</a>&nbsp;— the deadline for comments on the proposed rule — in favor of the proposed change, stating the current rule doesn’t offer “sufficient protections.”“Undermining privacy protections in health care leads to a breakdown in trust between providers and patients, and to adverse health outcomes,” the letter reads.The ACLU in its letter encouraged the DHHS to interpret the proposal’s protections broadly, allow it to go into effect quickly and take steps to ensure protections are widely implemented. It also suggested explicitly limiting the definition of “public health” to exclude investigations relating to the access of lawful care.<h2>Broadening rule to transition care</h2>While the proposed rule is focused on abortion and reproductive care, the attorneys general point to an expanded definition of reproductive care accompanying the proposed rule — “health care related to reproductive organs, regardless of whether the health care is related to an individual’s pregnancy or whether the individual is of reproductive age.”The attorneys general said the definition is “buried” in the Health Department’s gloss of the proposed rule “without explanation or analysis.”“Given its far-reaching and radical approach to transgender issues, the Administration may intend to use the proposed rule to obstruct state laws concerning experimental gender-transition procedures for minors (such as puberty blockers, hormone therapies and surgical interventions),” the attorneys general write.A federal judge in Arkansas&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/23/nebraska-lawmakers-respond-to-arkansas-court-decision-striking-gender-care-law/">struck down</a>&nbsp;a ban on gender-affirming care for youths last month, writing that the care is not experimental.&nbsp;Nebraska&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricted gender-affirming care for minors and banned most abortions after 12 weeks gestational age, is being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">challenged</a>&nbsp;in Lancaster County District Court for allegedly violating the state’s single subject rule.The ACLU’s comment letter on the proposed change explains that criminal bans on gender care for transgender youths “[chill] individuals’ willingness to access necessary care, even where legal, out of fear that doing so may expose them to potential criminal liability.”

Nebraska attorney general pushes against expansion of federal reproductive health privacy

JULY 18, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol has been honored with the 2022 Outstanding Interdiction Effort award for an operation that resulted in dozens of criminal cases and the removal of hundreds of pounds of controlled substances from the street.

The award was presented Tuesday by Dan Neill, Director of Midwest HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), which provides support to law enforcement agencies in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois.

“Some of the narcotics were going to our communities without a doubt, but some of them were going to the east coast,” said Neill. “So, you’re protecting not only the citizens of Nebraska, but you’re also protecting the people in other surrounding states and the east coast and different areas.”

NSP was honored for the work of troopers and investigators during a two-week period in August 2022. During the specially designated operation, troopers found 258 pounds of cocaine, 18 pounds of fentanyl, 180 pounds of methamphetamine, and 140 pounds of marijuana in traffic stops and narcotics investigations. The operation involved several different aspects of NSP operations and included troopers statewide.

“This award is a testament to the diligence and dedication of our entire team to keep Nebraska safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “From the troopers and investigators working the case, to the crime analysts and other support staff assisting in countless ways, I’m proud of the team effort that continues to benefit the people of Nebraska.”

HIDTA is a program of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Cody Thomas Nebraska State PatrolJULY 18, 2023 (LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol has been honored with the 2022 Outstanding Interdiction Effort award for an operation that resulted in dozens of criminal cases and the removal of hundreds of pounds of controlled substances from the street.The award was presented Tuesday by Dan Neill, Director of Midwest HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area), which provides support to law enforcement agencies in Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois.“Some of the narcotics were going to our communities without a doubt, but some of them were going to the east coast,” said Neill. “So, you’re protecting not only the citizens of Nebraska, but you’re also protecting the people in other surrounding states and the east coast and different areas.”NSP was honored for the work of troopers and investigators during a two-week period in August 2022. During the specially designated operation, troopers found 258 pounds of cocaine, 18 pounds of fentanyl, 180 pounds of methamphetamine, and 140 pounds of marijuana in traffic stops and narcotics investigations. The operation involved several different aspects of NSP operations and included troopers statewide.“This award is a testament to the diligence and dedication of our entire team to keep Nebraska safe,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “From the troopers and investigators working the case, to the crime analysts and other support staff assisting in countless ways, I’m proud of the team effort that continues to benefit the people of Nebraska.”HIDTA is a program of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy.

 NSP Honored by Midwest HIDTA

JULY 18, 2023 (SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed five impaired drivers from the road in Scotts Bluff County during Oregon Trail Days.

Oregon Trail Days ran from Thursday through Sunday of last week. Troopers performed high visibility patrols throughout the event, in addition to providing safe-driving education messages at the event itself.

“Oregon Trail Days is always a great time for our communities in Scotts Bluff County,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “We’re thankful that this weekend was safe on the roads for everyone in attendance. As the community events continue this summer, please always have a sober driver lined-up to get home safely.”

Oregon Trail Days marked its 102nd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2023. The events occurred at several locations around Gering. NSP’s effort was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $1,770 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. NDOT-HSO has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2023.

Statewide, troopers arrested 20 drivers for driving under the influence last weekend.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689705806578.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy of Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy of Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>Cody Thomas Nebraska State PatrolJULY 18, 2023 (SCOTTSBLUFF, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol removed five impaired drivers from the road in Scotts Bluff County during Oregon Trail Days.Oregon Trail Days ran from Thursday through Sunday of last week. Troopers performed high visibility patrols throughout the event, in addition to providing safe-driving education messages at the event itself.“Oregon Trail Days is always a great time for our communities in Scotts Bluff County,” said Major Jeff Roby, NSP Western Operations Major. “We’re thankful that this weekend was safe on the roads for everyone in attendance. As the community events continue this summer, please always have a sober driver lined-up to get home safely.”Oregon Trail Days marked its 102nd&nbsp;consecutive year in 2023. The events occurred at several locations around Gering. NSP’s effort was made possible thanks in part to a grant for $1,770 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office. NDOT-HSO has designated Scotts Bluff County as a priority county for 2023.Statewide, troopers arrested 20 drivers for driving under the influence last weekend.

Troopers Help Keep Roads Safe During Oregon Trail Days

WASHINGTON —The Defense Department announced an increased presence in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, including an additional Navy destroyer along with fighter jets, according to statement from the agency.

"In response to a number of recent, alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of defense has ordered the deployment of the of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing.&nbsp;

Earlier this month, Singh said, the Iranian navy attempted to illegally seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.&nbsp;

"One attempt included an Iranian navy ship firing upon the merchant vessel," Singh said. "In light of this continued threat and in coordination with our partners and allies, the department is increasing our presence and ability to monitor the strait and surrounding waters."&nbsp;

According to a news report from U.S. Central Command, on July 5, U.S. forces already in Centcom's area of responsibility participated in preventing two commercial tanker ships from being seized by the Iranian military in international waters near the coast of Oman.&nbsp;

One of those ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, was approached by an Iranian naval vessel, but that naval vessel departed after the arrival of the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul.&nbsp;

Later that same day, the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager was also approached by an Iranian naval vessel. That Iranian naval vessel got within one mile of the tanker and fired on it using small arms and crew-served weapons. As happened with the TRF Moss, the Iranian vessel departed when the USS McFaul arrived on the scene.&nbsp;

According to Centcom, Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021.&nbsp;

"We call upon Iran to immediately cease these destabilizing actions that threaten the free flow of commerce through this strategic waterway, of which the world depends on for more than 1/5 of the world's oil supply," Singh said.&nbsp;

Singh also said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley will host a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group from the Pentagon on Tuesday.

"They will join ministers of defense and chiefs of defense from nearly 50 nations from around the world to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and continue close coordination to provide Ukraine with the security assistance they need to protect their people and defend their country," she said.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689682458596.png" alt="The Navy’s USS Thomas Hudner is under orders from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to deploy to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. The Thomas Hudner is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Malachi Lakey" />
 <figcaption>The Navy’s USS Thomas Hudner is under orders from Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III to deploy to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. The Thomas Hudner is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer. Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Malachi Lakey</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The Defense Department announced an increased presence in the U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility, including an additional Navy destroyer along with fighter jets, according to statement from the agency."In response to a number of recent, alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of defense has ordered the deployment of the of the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, F-35 fighters and F-16 fighters to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to defend U.S. interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region," said Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh during a briefing.&nbsp;Earlier this month, Singh said, the Iranian navy attempted to illegally seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.&nbsp;"One attempt included an Iranian navy ship firing upon the merchant vessel," Singh said. "In light of this continued threat and in coordination with our partners and allies, the department is increasing our presence and ability to monitor the strait and surrounding waters."&nbsp;According to a news report from U.S. Central Command, on July 5, U.S. forces already in Centcom's area of responsibility participated in preventing two commercial tanker ships from being seized by the Iranian military in international waters near the coast of Oman.&nbsp;One of those ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, was approached by an Iranian naval vessel, but that naval vessel departed after the arrival of the U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689682519398.png" alt="Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is ordering an undisclosed number of F-16 aircraft, similar to the one photographed, to deploy to the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.&nbsp;Photo By:&nbsp;Osakabe Yasuo, Air Force" />
 <figcaption>Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is ordering an undisclosed number of F-16 aircraft, similar to the one photographed, to deploy to the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.&nbsp;Photo By:&nbsp;Osakabe Yasuo, Air Force</figcaption>
 </figure>Later that same day, the Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager was also approached by an Iranian naval vessel. That Iranian naval vessel got within one mile of the tanker and fired on it using small arms and crew-served weapons. As happened with the TRF Moss, the Iranian vessel departed when the USS McFaul arrived on the scene.&nbsp;According to Centcom, Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021.&nbsp;"We call upon Iran to immediately cease these destabilizing actions that threaten the free flow of commerce through this strategic waterway, of which the world depends on for more than 1/5 of the world's oil supply," Singh said.&nbsp;Singh also said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley will host a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group from the Pentagon on Tuesday."They will join ministers of defense and chiefs of defense from nearly 50 nations from around the world to discuss Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine and continue close coordination to provide Ukraine with the security assistance they need to protect their people and defend their country," she said.&nbsp;

U.S. moves guided missile destroyer, F16s due to Iran threat

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/sen-pete-ricketts-encouraging-other-states-to-copy-nebraska-snap-changes/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., hosted two roundtables Monday highlighting legislation he is proposing that would offer other states a chance to mimic a Nebraska program offering skilled job training to people on food stamps.

Ricketts pitched the value of Nebraska’s “SNAP Next Step” program at a gathering at Heartland Workforce Solutions, a job-training center in north-central Omaha. About 20 people attended. More than a dozen people attended a similar meeting in Grand Island.

Nebraska officials say 906 people have enrolled in Next Step since it started in 2016. Participants in the voluntary program, open to any Nebraskans receiving&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/SNAP-Next-Step.aspx">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits</a>, can receive education, job training and more.&nbsp;

The program also promotes working with participants to calculate how and when their public benefits would decrease as they earn more from a new job. The goal, Ricketts said, is helping people plan financially for the change and ensuring it’s worthwhile.

“We don’t want anybody to be a net loser on this,” Ricketts said. “We want people to be able to improve their income.”

Helping people overcome the fear of losing benefits before they are financially ready is vital, said Shannon Grotrian, interim deputy director of the Division of Children and Family Services for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.

“One of the fears people have is what happens if I take that job,” she said. “This program and its casework help people be confident.”

Julie Henningsen, the interim administrator of HHS food programs, said her caseworkers make sure people can find available money for community college coursework, union training, resume writing and transportation.

Many of those participants end up seeking associate degrees, nursing coursework, truck driver training or referrals to public-private partnerships such as Ignite Nebraska, an effort to recruit, train and retain workers in information technology.&nbsp;

Shannon Melton, a representative of Ignite, credited “SNAP Next Step” and programs like it for helping unemployed and underemployed Nebraskans work with Ignite and others to get jobs at local companies like Blue Cross &amp; Blue Shield of Nebraska.&nbsp;

In Nebraska, Ricketts said, 60% of “SNAP Next Step” participants earn enough now that they no longer need SNAP benefits. The other 40% earn enough that they require less aid to feed themselves and their families, he said.

State statistics requested from DHHS by the Nebraska Examiner show program participants earned an average of $265.49 a month when they started the program and $2,421.75 a month after securing their first job with the program’s help.

Participants, on average, also saw their average monthly need for SNAP benefits drop. The average participant received $508 when starting the program and $190 after getting a new job. DHHS shares the program with the Nebraska Department of Labor.

Ricketts, who said he will introduce the SNAP proposal Tuesday as his first standalone legislative proposal, said he plans to work with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate to incorporate it into the next Farm Bill, including Sen. Deb Fischer, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee.

He said he has confidence it can be adopted because all the proposal will do is give states the flexibility to use some of the 5% in administrative money they receive from the federal government for the SNAP program for this purpose.

Ricketts, a former two-term governor facing voters next year for the first time since being appointed senator by his successor, said he is trying to bring a little of what he learned about improving customer service for taxpayers to Washington, D.C.

He acknowledged the challenges facing a rookie senator in the GOP Senate minority from a low-population state but said the program is worth other states considering.

“It’s completely voluntary,” he saide. “Because it’s not costing any new money … I don’t really see what the objection could be.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689706279809.jpeg" alt="&nbsp;Shannon Melton, representing Ignite Nebraska, speaks during a roundtable organized by U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., in Omaha on Monday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>&nbsp;Shannon Melton, representing Ignite Nebraska, speaks during a roundtable organized by U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., in Omaha on Monday. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By Aaron Sanderford<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/sen-pete-ricketts-encouraging-other-states-to-copy-nebraska-snap-changes/">Nebraska Examiner</a>OMAHA — U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts, R-Neb., hosted two roundtables Monday highlighting legislation he is proposing that would offer other states a chance to mimic a Nebraska program offering skilled job training to people on food stamps.Ricketts pitched the value of Nebraska’s “SNAP Next Step” program at a gathering at Heartland Workforce Solutions, a job-training center in north-central Omaha. About 20 people attended. More than a dozen people attended a similar meeting in Grand Island.Nebraska officials say 906 people have enrolled in Next Step since it started in 2016. Participants in the voluntary program, open to any Nebraskans receiving&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://dhhs.ne.gov/pages/SNAP-Next-Step.aspx">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits</a>, can receive education, job training and more.&nbsp;<h2>Planning for the benefit cliff</h2>The program also promotes working with participants to calculate how and when their public benefits would decrease as they earn more from a new job. The goal, Ricketts said, is helping people plan financially for the change and ensuring it’s worthwhile.“We don’t want anybody to be a net loser on this,” Ricketts said. “We want people to be able to improve their income.”Helping people overcome the fear of losing benefits before they are financially ready is vital, said Shannon Grotrian, interim deputy director of the Division of Children and Family Services for the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.“One of the fears people have is what happens if I take that job,” she said. “This program and its casework help people be confident.”<h2>How it works</h2>Julie Henningsen, the interim administrator of HHS food programs, said her caseworkers make sure people can find available money for community college coursework, union training, resume writing and transportation.Many of those participants end up seeking associate degrees, nursing coursework, truck driver training or referrals to public-private partnerships such as Ignite Nebraska, an effort to recruit, train and retain workers in information technology.&nbsp;Shannon Melton, a representative of Ignite, credited “SNAP Next Step” and programs like it for helping unemployed and underemployed Nebraskans work with Ignite and others to get jobs at local companies like Blue Cross &amp; Blue Shield of Nebraska.&nbsp;In Nebraska, Ricketts said, 60% of “SNAP Next Step” participants earn enough now that they no longer need SNAP benefits. The other 40% earn enough that they require less aid to feed themselves and their families, he said.State statistics requested from DHHS by the Nebraska Examiner show program participants earned an average of $265.49 a month when they started the program and $2,421.75 a month after securing their first job with the program’s help.Participants, on average, also saw their average monthly need for SNAP benefits drop. The average participant received $508 when starting the program and $190 after getting a new job. DHHS shares the program with the Nebraska Department of Labor.<h2>Proposal coming Tuesday</h2>Ricketts, who said he will introduce the SNAP proposal Tuesday as his first standalone legislative proposal, said he plans to work with a bipartisan group of lawmakers in the House and Senate to incorporate it into the next Farm Bill, including Sen. Deb Fischer, who serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee.He said he has confidence it can be adopted because all the proposal will do is give states the flexibility to use some of the 5% in administrative money they receive from the federal government for the SNAP program for this purpose.Ricketts, a former two-term governor facing voters next year for the first time since being appointed senator by his successor, said he is trying to bring a little of what he learned about improving customer service for taxpayers to Washington, D.C.He acknowledged the challenges facing a rookie senator in the GOP Senate minority from a low-population state but said the program is worth other states considering.“It’s completely voluntary,” he saide. “Because it’s not costing any new money … I don’t really see what the objection could be.”

Sen. Pete Ricketts encouraging other states to copy Nebraska SNAP changes 

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/gender-care-law-prompts-california-to-restrict-state-funded-travel-to-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from University of California, Los Angeles Athletics.

LINCOLN —&nbsp;California plans to restrict state-funded travel to Nebraska later this year, adding the Cornhusker State to a list that includes more than half of the country.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-california-will-restrict-state-funded-travel-missouri">announced Friday</a>&nbsp;that Nebraska will be the 26th state to join the travel restrictions, citing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricts gender-affirming care for minors. Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/22/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-signs-abortion-gender-care-restrictions-into-law/">signed</a>&nbsp;the bill into law on May 22.

Nebraska will join the list Oct. 1 when&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/10/final-say-on-nebraska-gender-care-legislation-would-be-delegated-to-executive-appointee-and-dhhs/">those restrictions</a>&nbsp;in LB 574 take effect.&nbsp;

Wyoming, effective immediately, and Missouri, effective after Aug. 28, will also join the list. Each passed gender care restrictions and varying bans restricting sports participation on the basis of gender identity this spring.

Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49722">LB 575</a>, a proposal that would define K-12 bathrooms and sporting teams as male or female according to sex assigned at birth, remains in the Legislature’s Education Committee. Some lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/a-growing-number-of-nebraska-lawmakers-seeks-to-avoid-another-fight-on-trans-youth-in-2024/">questioned</a>&nbsp;its need and whether its initiatives have already been addressed.

Bonta said the new bans are required under a California law (AB 1887) passed in 2016 that states, “California must take action to avoid supporting or financing discrimination” against LGBTQ people.

The law prohibits employees and members of California agencies, departments, boards or commissions — as well as universities — from traveling to restricted states using state funds.&nbsp;

“These laws pose significant risks for deepening the stigmatization and alienation of LGBTQ+ youth who are already subject to pervasive discrimination, bullying and hate crimes,” Bonta said in a statement.

States may be removed from the list if their laws targeted by California are repealed or struck down. Nebraska’s LB 574 is being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">challenged in court</a>&nbsp;by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland; the next&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/legal-arguments-in-challenge-to-new-abortion-ban-put-off-until-july-19/">court date</a>&nbsp;is Wednesday.

Nebraska State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, who introduced LB 574 and LB 575, has said the bills are about protecting children. A number of Nebraska&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/04/more-than-115-nebraska-business-leaders-sign-letter-opposing-bills-that-attack-lgbtq-rights/">businesses and nonprofits</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/26/omaha-chamber-urges-legislature-to-avoid-measures-contrary-to-positive-business-environment/">Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce</a>&nbsp;criticized the proposals as discriminatory.

Pillen’s office did not immediately respond to a request Monday for comment.

All California state employees are included in the restrictions, though a major implication could be the addition of the University of California, Los Angeles to the Big Ten Conference next year as it plans to leave the Pac-12.

Under the law, UCLA faculty, staff and students could not use state funds to travel to Nebraska. Travel paid for or reimbursed through non-state funds is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://travel.ucla.edu/news/ab-1887-state-funded-travel-restrictions-additional-us-state-starting-august-19-2022">not affected</a>, according to UCLA.&nbsp;

An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/aug22/b1attach.pdf">interim report</a>&nbsp;for the UC Board of Regents last summer stated UCLA athletics traditionally generates enough revenue to be almost entirely self-funded. The report noted that Utah, a Pac-12 member, is on the restricted list, and teams do not use state funds for travel to restricted states.

Indiana, Iowa and Ohio — Big Ten members — are already included on the prohibited list.

Scott Markley, spokesman for UCLA Athletics, told the Nebraska Examiner that should UCLA compete or recruit in a banned state, none of the costs for travel to that state would come from state funds.

“In addition, if a team competes in a banned state, student-athletes and staff will receive education about the relevant California law, the law at issue in the destination state and given the choice to opt out of travel with no risk of consequence,” Markley said in a statement.

The Big Ten also brings&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://btaa.org/research">research opportunities</a>, and University of Nebraska President Ted Carter and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett have expressed their intent to expand NU’s research footprint in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">efforts to rejoin</a>&nbsp;the Association of American Universities.

The California law includes seven exceptions for “required” travel, such as contractual obligations, litigation and meeting participation or training if required for a grant or to maintain grant funding.&nbsp;

Contracts must have been incurred before 2017 and would not apply to the Big Ten.

The University of Southern California, a private research university, plans to join the Big Ten next year alongside UCLA.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1646089328158.png" alt="The Nebraska State Capitol Building in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>The Nebraska State Capitol Building in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/gender-care-law-prompts-california-to-restrict-state-funded-travel-to-nebraska/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Editor’s note: This article has been updated to include comment from University of California, Los Angeles Athletics.LINCOLN —&nbsp;California plans to restrict state-funded travel to Nebraska later this year, adding the Cornhusker State to a list that includes more than half of the country.California Attorney General Rob Bonta&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-california-will-restrict-state-funded-travel-missouri">announced Friday</a>&nbsp;that Nebraska will be the 26th state to join the travel restrictions, citing&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49961">Legislative Bill 574</a>, which restricts gender-affirming care for minors. Gov. Jim Pillen&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/22/nebraska-gov-jim-pillen-signs-abortion-gender-care-restrictions-into-law/">signed</a>&nbsp;the bill into law on May 22.Nebraska will join the list Oct. 1 when&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/10/final-say-on-nebraska-gender-care-legislation-would-be-delegated-to-executive-appointee-and-dhhs/">those restrictions</a>&nbsp;in LB 574 take effect.&nbsp;Wyoming, effective immediately, and Missouri, effective after Aug. 28, will also join the list. Each passed gender care restrictions and varying bans restricting sports participation on the basis of gender identity this spring.Nebraska’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49722">LB 575</a>, a proposal that would define K-12 bathrooms and sporting teams as male or female according to sex assigned at birth, remains in the Legislature’s Education Committee. Some lawmakers have&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/a-growing-number-of-nebraska-lawmakers-seeks-to-avoid-another-fight-on-trans-youth-in-2024/">questioned</a>&nbsp;its need and whether its initiatives have already been addressed.Bonta said the new bans are required under a California law (AB 1887) passed in 2016 that states, “California must take action to avoid supporting or financing discrimination” against LGBTQ people.The law prohibits employees and members of California agencies, departments, boards or commissions — as well as universities — from traveling to restricted states using state funds.&nbsp;“These laws pose significant risks for deepening the stigmatization and alienation of LGBTQ+ youth who are already subject to pervasive discrimination, bullying and hate crimes,” Bonta said in a statement.States may be removed from the list if their laws targeted by California are repealed or struck down. Nebraska’s LB 574 is being&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/30/nebraska-lawsuit-targets-combo-bill-on-abortion-gender-affirming-care/">challenged in court</a>&nbsp;by Planned Parenthood of the Heartland; the next&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/legal-arguments-in-challenge-to-new-abortion-ban-put-off-until-july-19/">court date</a>&nbsp;is Wednesday.Nebraska State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, who introduced LB 574 and LB 575, has said the bills are about protecting children. A number of Nebraska&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/05/04/more-than-115-nebraska-business-leaders-sign-letter-opposing-bills-that-attack-lgbtq-rights/">businesses and nonprofits</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/04/26/omaha-chamber-urges-legislature-to-avoid-measures-contrary-to-positive-business-environment/">Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce</a>&nbsp;criticized the proposals as discriminatory.Pillen’s office did not immediately respond to a request Monday for comment.<h2>Big Ten Conference</h2>All California state employees are included in the restrictions, though a major implication could be the addition of the University of California, Los Angeles to the Big Ten Conference next year as it plans to leave the Pac-12.Under the law, UCLA faculty, staff and students could not use state funds to travel to Nebraska. Travel paid for or reimbursed through non-state funds is&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://travel.ucla.edu/news/ab-1887-state-funded-travel-restrictions-additional-us-state-starting-august-19-2022">not affected</a>, according to UCLA.&nbsp;An&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/aug22/b1attach.pdf">interim report</a>&nbsp;for the UC Board of Regents last summer stated UCLA athletics traditionally generates enough revenue to be almost entirely self-funded. The report noted that Utah, a Pac-12 member, is on the restricted list, and teams do not use state funds for travel to restricted states.Indiana, Iowa and Ohio — Big Ten members — are already included on the prohibited list.Scott Markley, spokesman for UCLA Athletics, told the Nebraska Examiner that should UCLA compete or recruit in a banned state, none of the costs for travel to that state would come from state funds.“In addition, if a team competes in a banned state, student-athletes and staff will receive education about the relevant California law, the law at issue in the destination state and given the choice to opt out of travel with no risk of consequence,” Markley said in a statement.<h2>Research opportunities</h2>The Big Ten also brings&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://btaa.org/research">research opportunities</a>, and University of Nebraska President Ted Carter and University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Rodney Bennett have expressed their intent to expand NU’s research footprint in&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/22/university-of-nebraska-president-details-five-point-plan-to-get-nu-back-on-offense/">efforts to rejoin</a>&nbsp;the Association of American Universities.The California law includes seven exceptions for “required” travel, such as contractual obligations, litigation and meeting participation or training if required for a grant or to maintain grant funding.&nbsp;Contracts must have been incurred before 2017 and would not apply to the Big Ten.The University of Southern California, a private research university, plans to join the Big Ten next year alongside UCLA.

Gender-care law prompts California to restrict state-funded travel to Nebraska

Duck hunters again must choose between two daily bag limits when they register for their Harvest Information Program number this year.

Nebraska and South Dakota are entering the third year of a “two-tier” program for the regular duck season.

Tier I is a traditional six-duck bag limit with species and sex restrictions. Tier II is a three-duck bag limit with no species or sex restrictions.

HIP registration begins Aug. 1. During the registration process, hunters will be asked if they plan to hunt ducks. If they do, they will be prompted to select a tier. Hunters will be bound to that bag limit for the entire season.

The regulations will not apply to goose limits or during the early teal season, which have their own bag limits.

All hunters age 16 and older, including residents, nonresidents, lifetime permit holders, veterans and senior permit holders, are required to register for HIP if they plan to hunt migratory game birds in Nebraska between Sept. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024.

Residents under the age of 16 are exempt from the HIP requirement only if they choose the Tier I bag limit. All hunters must register for HIP if selecting Tier II. All nonresidents, regardless of age, must register for HIP for either tier.

Hunters who choose the Tier II option will be provided a journal, where they will record information on hunting activity and harvest. The journal will be submitted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at the end of the hunting season.

In addition, postage-paid envelopes will be provided to most Tier II hunters with the expectation that a wing from each duck harvested be sent. This process is crucial for federal collection efforts when estimating harvest. Duck harvest and species composition then will be compared to hunters using the Tier I option. If enough wings are not received to evaluate the harvest by Tier II hunters, the program will be unlikely to continue past the experimental phase.

New this year, starting Aug. 1, hunters must register for HIP through their permit system customer profile at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ29vdXRkb29yc25lLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzE4Ljc5ODIyMzkxIn0.bRqgKAgcptGJQQCXJBrcy19vdnvqIbGR-oOEQZrbaYM/s/401498001/br/222823870505-l" target="_blank">GoOutdoorsNE.com</a>. Registered hunters are assigned a number they must carry with them while hunting. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cub3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzE4Ljc5ODIyMzkxIn0.Tw3m2Ej9u97E6_lfB7hZVcGabPKMhs20B4aszQC1qiY/s/401498001/br/222823870505-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.

HIP, which is required by federal regulation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, helps wildlife managers estimate the number of migratory game birds harvested each year. Migratory birds include doves, ducks, geese, snipe, rail, coots and woodcock.

The two-tier program will continue for the next two seasons, and then be reexamined to determine whether it affected waterfowl hunter numbers and duck populations.

Nebraska Games and ParkDuck hunters again must choose between two daily bag limits when they register for their Harvest Information Program number this year.Nebraska and South Dakota are entering the third year of a “two-tier” program for the regular duck season.Tier I is a traditional six-duck bag limit with species and sex restrictions. Tier II is a three-duck bag limit with no species or sex restrictions.HIP registration begins Aug. 1. During the registration process, hunters will be asked if they plan to hunt ducks. If they do, they will be prompted to select a tier. Hunters will be bound to that bag limit for the entire season.The regulations will not apply to goose limits or during the early teal season, which have their own bag limits.All hunters age 16 and older, including residents, nonresidents, lifetime permit holders, veterans and senior permit holders, are required to register for HIP if they plan to hunt migratory game birds in Nebraska between Sept. 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024.Residents under the age of 16 are exempt from the HIP requirement only if they choose the Tier I bag limit. All hunters must register for HIP if selecting Tier II. All nonresidents, regardless of age, must register for HIP for either tier.Hunters who choose the Tier II option will be provided a journal, where they will record information on hunting activity and harvest. The journal will be submitted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at the end of the hunting season.In addition, postage-paid envelopes will be provided to most Tier II hunters with the expectation that a wing from each duck harvested be sent. This process is crucial for federal collection efforts when estimating harvest. Duck harvest and species composition then will be compared to hunters using the Tier I option. If enough wings are not received to evaluate the harvest by Tier II hunters, the program will be unlikely to continue past the experimental phase.New this year, starting Aug. 1, hunters must register for HIP through their permit system customer profile at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cuZ29vdXRkb29yc25lLmNvbS8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzE4Ljc5ODIyMzkxIn0.bRqgKAgcptGJQQCXJBrcy19vdnvqIbGR-oOEQZrbaYM/s/401498001/br/222823870505-l" target="_blank">GoOutdoorsNE.com</a>. Registered hunters are assigned a number they must carry with them while hunting. Learn more at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsInVybCI6Imh0dHA6Ly93d3cub3V0ZG9vcm5lYnJhc2thLmdvdi8iLCJidWxsZXRpbl9pZCI6IjIwMjMwNzE4Ljc5ODIyMzkxIn0.Tw3m2Ej9u97E6_lfB7hZVcGabPKMhs20B4aszQC1qiY/s/401498001/br/222823870505-l" target="_blank">OutdoorNebraska.gov</a>.HIP, which is required by federal regulation of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, helps wildlife managers estimate the number of migratory game birds harvested each year. Migratory birds include doves, ducks, geese, snipe, rail, coots and woodcock.The two-tier program will continue for the next two seasons, and then be reexamined to determine whether it affected waterfowl hunter numbers and duck populations.

Duck hunters select from two bag limits when registering for HIP

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A bison severely injured a Minnesota woman on Saturday in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the National Park Service said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/news/visitor-injured-by-bison-thro.htm">statement</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday.

Park officials reported she was in serious but stable condition after suffering “significant injuries to her abdomen and foot.”

The woman was taken to a Fargo hospital after being transported by ambulance to a hospital in Dickinson, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) east of Painted Canyon, a colorful Badlands vista popular with motorists, where she was injured at a trailhead.

The attack is under investigation; exact details are unknown. Park Superintendent Angie Richman did not immediately respond to an email requesting information.

On Monday, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-national-park-bison-attack-996cd6cadd71dc0aa7c1926b001d6358">bison charged and gored a 47-year-old Phoenix woman</a>&nbsp;in Yellowstone National Park. She sustained significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was taken by helicopter to an Idaho Falls hospital.

Park officials reminded visitors that bison are large, powerful and wild, and can turn quickly and easily outrun people. Bulls can be aggressive during the rutting season from mid-July through August. Park regulations require visitors stay at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from large animals.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669050091172.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A bison severely injured a Minnesota woman on Saturday in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the National Park Service said in a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nps.gov/thro/learn/news/visitor-injured-by-bison-thro.htm">statement</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday.Park officials reported she was in serious but stable condition after suffering “significant injuries to her abdomen and foot.”The woman was taken to a Fargo hospital after being transported by ambulance to a hospital in Dickinson, about 30 miles (48.28 kilometers) east of Painted Canyon, a colorful Badlands vista popular with motorists, where she was injured at a trailhead.The attack is under investigation; exact details are unknown. Park Superintendent Angie Richman did not immediately respond to an email requesting information.On Monday, a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yellowstone-national-park-bison-attack-996cd6cadd71dc0aa7c1926b001d6358">bison charged and gored a 47-year-old Phoenix woman</a>&nbsp;in Yellowstone National Park. She sustained significant injuries to her chest and abdomen and was taken by helicopter to an Idaho Falls hospital.Park officials reminded visitors that bison are large, powerful and wild, and can turn quickly and easily outrun people. Bulls can be aggressive during the rutting season from mid-July through August. Park regulations require visitors stay at least 25 yards (23 meters) away from large animals.

Bison attack visitors in North Dakota and Wyoming national parks

The Nebraska State Fair is pleased to announce Three Dog Night has been added to the Nebraska Lottery Concert Series, performing Tuesday, August 29, at the Heartland Events Center. Three Dog Night, at the peak of their career, achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records and sold more concert tickets than any other band of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jaime Parr, Nebraska State Fair executive director, said, “Three Dog Night is a band that has not only crossed all borders selling records around the world, but also crossed all musical genres to include pop, rock and country. We’re more than happy to add Three Dog Night to our lineup at this year’s Nebraska State Fair. It’s a concert that will make Two-Dollar Tuesday even more special.”

Three Dog Night is co-presented by the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation and locally owned and operated GI Family Radio KRGI, and sponsored by four local firms: Tom Dinsdale Automotive, Galloway Financial, Pizza Hut and Middleton&nbsp;Electric.

Lindsey Koepke, executive director of the 1868 Foundation said, “Making the State Fair better is at the heart of everything we do, from infrastructure improvements to helping with entertainment to create an even better fairgoer experience. Adding Three Dog Night does just that. The group has over 50 years experience on the road, and since 1986 has performed over 3,000 shows - including two Super Bowls.”

GI Family Radio owner Alan Usher agrees, saying, “Three Dog Night is unique because they transcend time, bringing together both new and longtime audiences alike. With tens of millions of records sold since their inception, Three Dog Night has staying power and releases new material today as they have for the last five decades. We are excited to be a part of an event that makes the State Fair even better, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”

Tickets are all reserved seats in the Heartland Events Center unless requested to be stage side in the Dinsdale Auto Pit. Tickets are on sale now at&nbsp;<a href="http://statefair.org/" target="_blank">statefair.org</a>&nbsp;or at the Nebraska State Fair box office. Prices are $20, $35 or $50, plus fees.&nbsp;All concert tickets include State Fair admission.

Of the group’s 21 top 40 hits, those that topped the chart include: “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Joy To The World” and “Black And White.” Add to that signature classics like “Shambala,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song” and “One,” and you have a concert event that includes all their hits and new material to be featured in their upcoming album release.&nbsp;(See complete list of hits at the end.)

Spirit In The Sky Production’s Jay Vavricek said, “It’s an honor to work with Jaime Parr and everyone at the Nebraska State Fair to bring Three Dog Night to Grand Island. We agree that a concert of this magnitude is a perfect fit for an already great line-up of entertainment. Three Dog Night is undoubtedly one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history.”

Tickets go on sale, Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at StateFair.org or at the Nebraska State Fair box office. The show will be inside the Heartland Events Center, Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Doors open at 6 p.m.

THREE DOG NIGHT’s 21 Top 40 Hits:&nbsp;

Nebraska State FairThe Nebraska State Fair is pleased to announce Three Dog Night has been added to the Nebraska Lottery Concert Series, performing Tuesday, August 29, at the Heartland Events Center. Three Dog Night, at the peak of their career, achieved more top 10 hits, moved more records and sold more concert tickets than any other band of the day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jaime Parr, Nebraska State Fair executive director, said, “Three Dog Night is a band that has not only crossed all borders selling records around the world, but also crossed all musical genres to include pop, rock and country. We’re more than happy to add Three Dog Night to our lineup at this year’s Nebraska State Fair. It’s a concert that will make Two-Dollar Tuesday even more special.”Three Dog Night is co-presented by the Nebraska State Fair 1868 Foundation and locally owned and operated GI Family Radio KRGI, and sponsored by four local firms: Tom Dinsdale Automotive, Galloway Financial, Pizza Hut and Middleton&nbsp;Electric.Lindsey Koepke, executive director of the 1868 Foundation said, “Making the State Fair better is at the heart of everything we do, from infrastructure improvements to helping with entertainment to create an even better fairgoer experience. Adding Three Dog Night does just that. The group has over 50 years experience on the road, and since 1986 has performed over 3,000 shows - including two Super Bowls.”GI Family Radio owner Alan Usher agrees, saying, “Three Dog Night is unique because they transcend time, bringing together both new and longtime audiences alike. With tens of millions of records sold since their inception, Three Dog Night has staying power and releases new material today as they have for the last five decades. We are excited to be a part of an event that makes the State Fair even better, and that’s not an easy thing to do.”Tickets are all reserved seats in the Heartland Events Center unless requested to be stage side in the Dinsdale Auto Pit. Tickets are on sale now at&nbsp;<a href="http://statefair.org/" target="_blank">statefair.org</a>&nbsp;or at the Nebraska State Fair box office. Prices are $20, $35 or $50, plus fees.&nbsp;All concert tickets include State Fair admission.Of the group’s 21 top 40 hits, those that topped the chart include: “Mama Told Me (Not To Come),” “Joy To The World” and “Black And White.” Add to that signature classics like “Shambala,” “An Old Fashioned Love Song” and “One,” and you have a concert event that includes all their hits and new material to be featured in their upcoming album release.&nbsp;(See complete list of hits at the end.)Spirit In The Sky Production’s Jay Vavricek said, “It’s an honor to work with Jaime Parr and everyone at the Nebraska State Fair to bring Three Dog Night to Grand Island. We agree that a concert of this magnitude is a perfect fit for an already great line-up of entertainment. Three Dog Night is undoubtedly one of the greatest bands in rock and roll history.”Tickets go on sale, Friday, July 21, 2023, at 10 a.m. Tickets are available at StateFair.org or at the Nebraska State Fair box office. The show will be inside the Heartland Events Center, Tuesday, August 29, 2023. Doors open at 6 p.m.THREE DOG NIGHT’s 21 Top 40 Hits:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Mama Told Me (Not To Come) #1&nbsp;</li><li>Joy to The World #1</li><li>Black And White #1</li><li>Shambala #3&nbsp;</li><li>Easy To Be Hard #4</li><li>An Old Fashioned Love Song #4</li><li>The Show Must Go On #4</li><li>One #5</li><li>Never Been To Spain #5</li><li>Liar #7</li><li>Eli’s Coming #10</li><li>The Family Of Man #12</li><li>Celebrate #15</li><li>Out In The Country #15</li><li>Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here #16</li><li>Let Me Serenade You #17</li><li>One Man Band #19</li><li>Pieces Of April #19</li><li>Try A Little Tenderness #29</li><li>Til The World Ends #32</li><li>Play Something Sweet (Brickyard Blues) #33&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>

Nebraska State Fair adds Three Dog Night to Nebraska Lottery Concert Series

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials on Monday approved the first long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that sends tens of thousands of American children to the hospital each year.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/respiratory-syncytial-virus">RSV</a>&nbsp;is a cold-like nuisance for most healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in the very young and the elderly.

The Food and Drug Administration approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old who face increased risk of severe RSV.

“Monday’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families and the health care system” said FDA's Dr. John Farley in a statement.

Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-flu-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-4bb3180fce1ca15bb7bf4244d5c4085e">a surge in RSV cases</a>&nbsp;flooded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">U.S. hospitals</a>&nbsp;with wheezing children. There are no vaccines for babies yet, though Pfizer and other companies are working on them.

AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV. Under the FDA approval, babies — including preterm infants — can receive a single injection to protect against their first season of RSV, which typically lasts about five months. Children up to age 2 can receive another dose to protect them during their second season facing the virus.

Beyfortus, which will be marketed in the U.S. by Sanofi, is already approved in Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">Europe</a>&nbsp;and the U.K. Sanofi did not immediately announce the U.S. price of the treatment.

FDA officials approved the drug based on three studies showing Beyfortus reduced the risk of RSV infection between 70% and 75% among infants and children 2 and younger.

Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet early next month to recommend exactly who should get the drug.

A similar antibody drug won FDA approval more than 20 years ago, but it’s only recommended for high-risk babies and requires monthly injections. Pediatricians say the drug is underutilized and they expect the longer-lasting effect of AstraZeneca's shot to improve uptake.

In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die.

After decades of setbacks for RSV research, drugmakers have made big strides this year, launching the first vaccines against the virus. In May, the FDA approved two RSV vaccines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">older adults</a>&nbsp;from GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. In August, the FDA is expected to make a decision on approving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-syncytial-virus-pregnant-42330f5b3ce608f9c5b1f4d8ed91594f">Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant women</a>, with the aim of passing along protection to their newborns.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689685636392.png" alt="AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials on Monday approved the first long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against a respiratory virus that sends tens of thousands of American children to the hospital each year.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/respiratory-syncytial-virus">RSV</a>&nbsp;is a cold-like nuisance for most healthy people, but it can be life-threatening in the very young and the elderly.The Food and Drug Administration approved the injection for infants and children up to 2 years old who face increased risk of severe RSV.“Monday’s approval addresses the great need for products to help reduce the impact of RSV disease on children, families and the health care system” said FDA's Dr. John Farley in a statement.Last year,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-flu-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-4bb3180fce1ca15bb7bf4244d5c4085e">a surge in RSV cases</a>&nbsp;flooded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-covid-pandemics-072e11e5e3af77aac19fe95773a69610">U.S. hospitals</a>&nbsp;with wheezing children. There are no vaccines for babies yet, though Pfizer and other companies are working on them.AstraZeneca’s drug, to be sold under the brand name Beyfortus, is a laboratory-made version of an antibody that helps the immune system fight off RSV. Under the FDA approval, babies — including preterm infants — can receive a single injection to protect against their first season of RSV, which typically lasts about five months. Children up to age 2 can receive another dose to protect them during their second season facing the virus.Beyfortus, which will be marketed in the U.S. by Sanofi, is already approved in Canada,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-europe-european-commission-respiratory-syncytial-virus-government-and-politics-c46168af1b123bc8e26e1f13da7116aa">Europe</a>&nbsp;and the U.K. Sanofi did not immediately announce the U.S. price of the treatment.FDA officials approved the drug based on three studies showing Beyfortus reduced the risk of RSV infection between 70% and 75% among infants and children 2 and younger.Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will meet early next month to recommend exactly who should get the drug.A similar antibody drug won FDA approval more than 20 years ago, but it’s only recommended for high-risk babies and requires monthly injections. Pediatricians say the drug is underutilized and they expect the longer-lasting effect of AstraZeneca's shot to improve uptake.In the U.S., about 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized for RSV each year and several hundred die.After decades of setbacks for RSV research, drugmakers have made big strides this year, launching the first vaccines against the virus. In May, the FDA approved two RSV vaccines for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-adults-gsk-pfizer-cdc-virus-592dcd5ae36cdbec8c003511f5fd27f0">older adults</a>&nbsp;from GlaxoSmithKline and Pfizer. In August, the FDA is expected to make a decision on approving&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/rsv-vaccine-respiratory-syncytial-virus-pregnant-42330f5b3ce608f9c5b1f4d8ed91594f">Pfizer’s vaccine for pregnant women</a>, with the aim of passing along protection to their newborns.

FDA OKs new drug to protect babies and toddlers from RSV

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/family-pleads-for-u-s-teacher-imprisoned-in-russia-were-not-forgetting-my-brother/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

WASHINGTON — Days after meeting with high-level White House officials, the family of an American teacher imprisoned in Russia walked the halls of the U.S. Capitol complex last week, pleading with U.S. leaders to remember that Marc Fogel is staring down a 14-year sentence in a penal colony on a marijuana charge.

Fogel, 61, an international baccalaureate history teacher from Pennsylvania with a lengthy resume, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in August 2021. He was accused by Russian authorities of having marijuana in contact lens cases and cannabis oil e-cigarette cartridges in his luggage.

He was convicted in June 2022 and subsequently sentenced for “large-scale drug smuggling,” according to international news media reports quoting a Russian interior ministry statement.

Fogel is currently serving his sentence in Rybinsk, about six hours north of Moscow.

“We’re letting (lawmakers) know we’re still here, we’re still waiting, we’re still pushing,” Marc’s sister Anne Fogel told States Newsroom Thursday outside the Capitol after a long day of meetings with U.S. senators.

Marc Fogel was about to begin his 10th and final year of teaching at the Anglo-American School of Moscow, closing out a 35-year career teaching abroad in Malaysia, Mexico, Colombia, Oman, Venezuela and Russia, where he instructed the children of U.S. and other international diplomats.

He then planned to retire with his spouse, Jane, at their home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, just northeast of Pittsburgh.

The teacher, who will turn 62 later this month, suffers from chronic pain after multiple surgeries on his back, knees, hips and rotator cuff, according to his family. Fogel walks with a limp, as one of his calf muscles atrophied over the years from numerous complications. Medical marijuana was part of Fogel’s pain management regimen; he refused to take opioids.

“That will be another birthday that he probably spends in a penal colony, which makes me very sad,” another sister, Lisa Hyland, told States Newsroom by phone from Ohio Township, Pennsylvania. “I worry about his health. He’s not that healthy to begin with. He has chronic pain and degenerative disease.”

Anne, a resident of Missoula, Montana, and Marc’s son, Ethan, met Thursday with several lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/stevedaines/status/1679638717068189699?s=46&amp;t=QtEnUrEjOnasn11enR93lg">posted</a>&nbsp;a photo of the meeting on Twitter.

Daines wrote: “Marc Fogel has been wrongfully detained in Russia since 2021, and I’ve been working closely with the Fogel family to press the Biden administration to escalate efforts to bring him home as soon as possible.”

But the administration has not declared Fogel “wrongfully detained.”

The family and lawmakers have been fighting for over a year for the special designation that triggers actions across government agencies to prioritize the release of an American detained abroad.

Friends, former students and loved ones planned to rally in front of the White House Saturday to pressure the administration to apply the same designation granted to other Americans jailed in Russia — including WNBA star Brittney Griner, U.S. Marine veterans Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, and Russia’s most recent American detainee, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

President Joe Biden, speaking from Finland on Thursday, told reporters he is “serious about a prisoner exchange” for Gershkovich’s release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689692778499.jpeg" alt=" Anne Fogel, of Missoula, Montana, stands on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, July 13, 2023, between meetings with U.S. senators about securing the release of her brother, Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption> Anne Fogel, of Missoula, Montana, stands on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, July 13, 2023, between meetings with U.S. senators about securing the release of her brother, Marc Fogel, who has been detained in Russia since August 2021. (Ashley Murray/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>By Ashley Murray<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/07/17/family-pleads-for-u-s-teacher-imprisoned-in-russia-were-not-forgetting-my-brother/">Nebraska Examiner</a>WASHINGTON — Days after meeting with high-level White House officials, the family of an American teacher imprisoned in Russia walked the halls of the U.S. Capitol complex last week, pleading with U.S. leaders to remember that Marc Fogel is staring down a 14-year sentence in a penal colony on a marijuana charge.Fogel, 61, an international baccalaureate history teacher from Pennsylvania with a lengthy resume, was arrested at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport in August 2021. He was accused by Russian authorities of having marijuana in contact lens cases and cannabis oil e-cigarette cartridges in his luggage.He was convicted in June 2022 and subsequently sentenced for “large-scale drug smuggling,” according to international news media reports quoting a Russian interior ministry statement.Fogel is currently serving his sentence in Rybinsk, about six hours north of Moscow.“We’re letting (lawmakers) know we’re still here, we’re still waiting, we’re still pushing,” Marc’s sister Anne Fogel told States Newsroom Thursday outside the Capitol after a long day of meetings with U.S. senators.<h2>35-year teaching career</h2>Marc Fogel was about to begin his 10th and final year of teaching at the Anglo-American School of Moscow, closing out a 35-year career teaching abroad in Malaysia, Mexico, Colombia, Oman, Venezuela and Russia, where he instructed the children of U.S. and other international diplomats.He then planned to retire with his spouse, Jane, at their home in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, just northeast of Pittsburgh.The teacher, who will turn 62 later this month, suffers from chronic pain after multiple surgeries on his back, knees, hips and rotator cuff, according to his family. Fogel walks with a limp, as one of his calf muscles atrophied over the years from numerous complications. Medical marijuana was part of Fogel’s pain management regimen; he refused to take opioids.“That will be another birthday that he probably spends in a penal colony, which makes me very sad,” another sister, Lisa Hyland, told States Newsroom by phone from Ohio Township, Pennsylvania. “I worry about his health. He’s not that healthy to begin with. He has chronic pain and degenerative disease.”Anne, a resident of Missoula, Montana, and Marc’s son, Ethan, met Thursday with several lawmakers, including Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana, who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/stevedaines/status/1679638717068189699?s=46&amp;t=QtEnUrEjOnasn11enR93lg">posted</a>&nbsp;a photo of the meeting on Twitter.Daines wrote: “Marc Fogel has been wrongfully detained in Russia since 2021, and I’ve been working closely with the Fogel family to press the Biden administration to escalate efforts to bring him home as soon as possible.”But the administration has not declared Fogel “wrongfully detained.”The family and lawmakers have been fighting for over a year for the special designation that triggers actions across government agencies to prioritize the release of an American detained abroad.Friends, former students and loved ones planned to rally in front of the White House Saturday to pressure the administration to apply the same designation granted to other Americans jailed in Russia — including WNBA star Brittney Griner, U.S. Marine veterans Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, and Russia’s most recent American detainee, Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.President Joe Biden, speaking from Finland on Thursday, told reporters he is “serious about a prisoner exchange” for Gershkovich’s release.“I’m serious about doing all we can to free Americans who are being illegally held in Russia or anywhere else for that matter.&nbsp; And that process is underway,” Biden said at the presidential palace in Helsinki during a joint press conference with Finland’s leader.Jane and Ethan met with White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on July 6.Administration officials are trying to “manage” the family’s expectations for a release, according to Anne, who is speaking for the Fogels.“I think the priority is Evan Gershkovich at this point because Marc isn’t ‘wrongfully detained,’” Anne said.The White House did not respond to multiple inquiries for comment about the meeting.<h2>Other Americans ‘wrongfully detained,’ released</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/wsj-reporter-evan-gershkovich-detained-russia-cd03b0f3">Gershkovich</a>, an American journalist and son of Soviet refugees, was detained by Russian Federal Security Bureau agents in late March at a steakhouse in Yekaterinburg and arrested on espionage charges — charges that he, the Wall Street Journal and the Biden administration deny.The Journal correspondent faces up to 20 years in prison and was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/russias-wrongful-detention-of-journalist-evan-gershkovich/">declared “wrongfully detained”</a>&nbsp;by the U.S. State Department on April 10.U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in interviews with CBS and MSNBC on July 11, said that he is “very much focused on” Gershkovich’s release, as well as the release of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/four-year-anniversary-of-paul-whelans-wrongful-detention-in-russia/">Whelan</a>, who was arrested on spying charges at a Moscow hotel in 2018 and sentenced in 2020 to 16 years in a penal colony.“I’m determined to bring Evan home, to bring Paul home, to bring others home,” Blinken told CBS Mornings’ Gayle King. “I have nothing that I can share with you right now. I can just tell you generally that even when we have profound, very profound differences with Russia, for example over Ukraine, that doesn’t mean that we’re not working to try to bring home Americans who are being unjustly detained.”Fogel’s severe punishment is comparable to the nine-year sentence Russian officials levied on professional basketball player Griner — a U.S. Olympic gold medalist and six-time WNBA All Star — for having cannabis oil vape cartridges in her luggage, which she maintains were packed by accident, according to numerous media reports.Griner was detained in February 2022, a week before Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine. (Russia forcefully occupied Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.) The U.S. State Department declared Griner “wrongfully detained” and negotiated her December 2022 release in exchange for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/international-arms-dealer-viktor-bout-convicted-new-york-terrorism-crimes">convicted Russian international arms dealer Viktor Bout</a>.Bout was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nys/pressreleases/April12/boutviktorsentencing.html">sentenced</a>&nbsp;in 2012 after revealing years earlier to a confidential source for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency that he was planning to sell weapons worth millions of dollars — explosives, light aircraft, hundreds of surface-to-air missiles, 30,000 AK-47 firearms and 10 million rounds of ammunition — to guerilla fighters in Colombia who planned to use them to attack U.S. helicopters.In April 2022, U.S. officials swapped former Russian pilot and convicted drug smuggler Konstantin Yaroshenko for the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.state.gov/release-of-u-s-citizen-trevor-reed-from-russia/">release of Reed</a>, who was declared “wrongfully detained” by the U.S. government after he was sentenced to nine years for assaulting two Russian police officers — charges he denied.According to the family’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.freetrevorreed.com/the-incident-1">account</a>&nbsp;of the incident, Reed was inebriated, and possibly drugged, during a visit to Russia to see his girlfriend in August 2020. When those around him called for help, police took Reed into custody rather than to a medical facility.Yaroshenko was&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nys/pressreleases/September11/yaroshenkokonstantinsentencingpr.pdf">convicted</a>&nbsp;in 2011 for conspiring to transport a portion of a 4,000-kilogram shipment of cocaine to the U.S. via Liberia.<h2>The Marc Fogel Act</h2>Frustrated by unanswered requests for the State Department to designate Fogel “wrongfully detained,” a bipartisan delegation of Pennsylvania representatives in the U.S. House introduced the Marc Fogel Act in June.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://reschenthaler.house.gov/imo/media/doc/marc_fogel_act.pdf">legislation</a>&nbsp;would compel the State Department to communicate to Congress within 180 days of reviewing evidence of Americans detained abroad.“What this bill does is pushes and requires the State Department to report to Congress about these wrongful detention designations and why they do or don’t make them,” said freshman Democratic Rep. Chris Deluzio, who represents Fogel’s district. “In Marc’s case, he’s not been designated as wrongfully detained and that designation is an important part of our government putting its power behind getting someone brought home.”The bill would add the mandate to the Robert Levinson Hostage Recovery and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, the law that established the criteria for the special designation. The law is named after retired FBI agent Robert Levinson, who is presumed to have died in Iranian custody after his disappearance in 2007.“Marc Fogel meets six of the eleven criteria established by the (Levinson Act) to be designated as wrongfully detained,” GOP Rep. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania said in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://reschenthaler.house.gov/media/press-releases/reschenthaler-colleagues-introduce-the-marc-fogel-act">statement</a>&nbsp;upon the act’s introduction. “Since last year, I have urged the State Department to classify him as wrongfully detained and prioritize securing his release.”The lawmakers included Fogel in a House&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/377/text">resolution</a>&nbsp;in mid-June calling for the immediate release of Gershkovich and Whelan.The State Department does not comment on pending legislation.“The Department continuously reviews the circumstances surrounding the detentions of U.S. nationals overseas, including those in Russia, for indicators that they are wrongful. The U.S. government continues to call on the Russian government to release Marc Fogel on humanitarian grounds. We take seriously our commitment to assist U.S. citizens abroad and to provide all appropriate consular assistance,” a State Department spokesperson said.A companion bill has not been introduced in the Senate.<h2>Pennsylvania pressure</h2>U.S. senators from Pennsylvania, along with the House delegation, wrote numerous letters to the administration last Congress and into this session.“Mr. Fogel’s recent 14-year sentence to a maximum-security penal colony for possession of less than an ounce of medical marijuana can only be understood as a political ploy by Vladimir Putin’s authoritarian regime. Mr. Fogel, a 61-year-old with severe medical conditions, has already been detained for a year. The United States cannot stand by as Mr. Fogel wastes away in a Russian hard labor camp,” Democratic Sen. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania wrote last August with former GOP Sen. Pat Toomey and colleagues.Others who signed the letter to Blinken included Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Daines and Jon Tester of Montana, John Hickenlooper of Colorado, Joe Manchin III and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia and Tim Kaine of Virginia.Casey has been instrumental in arranging meetings between the Fogel family and Congress, Anne said.Pennsylvania’s freshman Democratic U.S. Sen. John Fetterman’s office said in a statement that Fogel’s case “is not a political matter, this is a humanitarian matter.”“John has been working with his colleagues in the Senate and the House to make sure that we can get Marc home as soon as possible,” the statement read. “We are in close consultation with the State Department to make sure every possible step is taken to free Marc from Russian captivity.”In May, Marc and Anne’s 94-year-old mother, Malphine, accompanied Anne on a whirlwind 14 meetings with lawmakers. Marc’s other son, Sam, and Anne’s son pleaded the family’s case in 17 meetings in June.“We’re here just letting them know that we’re not forgetting my brother,” Anne said. “And that he needs to be designated as wrongfully detained.”