DENVER (AP) — A student shot and wounded two administrators at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">Denver high school</a>&nbsp;Wednesday morning, after a handgun was found during a daily search of the boy that was being conducted because of behavioral issues, authorities said.

The 17-year-old suspect remained at large. Denver school officials, facing criticism over lax security, said they would put armed officers into the city's public high schools.

The shooting occurred at a school shaken by frequent lockdowns and violence, including the killing of a classmate that prompted East High School students to march on the Colorado Capitol earlier this month. Parents who converged on the 2,500-student campus on Wednesday faulted officials for not doing enough to protect their children.

“I am sick of it,” said Jesse Haase, who planned to talk with her daughter about taking her out of classes for the rest of the school year.

Police were searching for Austin Lyle for attempted homicide. The gun used in the shooting was not immediately recovered, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

Police issued an alert linking Lyle to a red 2005 Volvo X90 with Colorado plates and offered a reward up to $2,000 for information on the case.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an office area as the student was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.

One of the wounded administrators was released from the hospital Wednesday afternoon and the second remained in serious condition, said Heather Burke, a spokesperson for Denver Health hospital. Both victims are male.

Thomas said police know where Lyle lives and believed they would apprehend him.

"He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as we’ve learned this morning,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock warned as law enforcement searched.

Hundreds of students on March 3 skipped class and marched in support of stricter gun laws following the death of Luis Garcia, 16, who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday's shooting, Thomas said.

In June 2020, amid a summer of protests over racial injustice following the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-us-news-ap-top-news-hip-hop-and-rap-houston-a55d2662f200ead0da4fed9e923b60a7">murder of George Floyd</a>, Denver Public Schools became one of the districts around the US that decided to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-wisconsin-az-state-wire-racial-injustice-bc5b750085a89e03e132d7d3dda09a99">phase out its use of police officers in school buildings</a>. That push was fueled by criticism that school resource officers disproportionately arrested Black students, sweeping them into the criminal justice system.

After Wednesday's shooting, two armed officers will be posted at East High School and other city high schools also will each get an officer, said Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero.

In a Wednesday letter to the city's Board of Education, Marrero said his decision would violate the district's policies. But Marrero added he “can no longer stand on the sidelines.”

“I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions,” he wrote. “I am the leader of this district who is charged with keeping our scholars and staff safe every day.”

Gun violence at schools has become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with more than 1,300 shootings recorded between 2000 and June 2022, according to researchers from the Naval Postgraduate School and Center for Homeland Defense and Security. Those shootings killed 377 people and wounded 1,025, according to a database maintained by the researchers.

Students from East High School had been scheduled to testify Wednesday afternoon before the Colorado Legislature on gun safety bills.

“This is the reality of being young in America: sitting through a shooting and waiting for information just hours before you’re scheduled to testify in support of gun safety bills,” said Gracie Taub, a 16-year-old East High School sophomore and volunteer with Students Demand Action in Colorado.

“Our school experience should not be completely shaped by gun violence,” she added.

Lyle had transferred to East High School after being disciplined and removed from a high school in nearby Aurora during last school year because of violations of school policies, Cherry Creek School District spokesperson Lauren Snell. She declined to specify the violations, citing student privacy.

Officials did not reveal why he was being searched daily.

Marrero said safety plans for students are enacted in response to “past educational and also behavioral experiences,” adding that it’s a common practice throughout Colorado’s public schools.

But daily pat downs are rare, said Matthew McClain with the Colorado School Counselor Association, and Franci Crepeau-Hobson, a University of Colorado Denver professor specializing in school violence prevention.

“Clearly they were concerned,” said Crepeau-Hobson. “I can’t imagine they’d do that if there wasn’t a history of the kid carrying a weapon for whatever reason.”

School safety plans are often imposed after students exhibit threatening or suicidal behavior, said Christine Harms, director of the Colorado School Safety Resource Center. A team that can include counselors, administrators and police officers assesses the possible threat and develops a safety plan, which can include mental health support, more supervision and searches, she said.

East High School, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.

Hundreds of parents lined up along a road near the school, with the scene sealed off by police.

Some parents and students vented frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded the police chief. Others argued about the causes of the violence.

Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board.

At the edge of the crowd, a man said the city's school board members should be recalled for getting rid of police in school, telling a police officer nearby “I just want you to be able to do your job.”

Another man shouted that it was a problem of “evil in the world” while a girl responded that the violence wouldn’t happen if guns weren’t so easily available.

Parent Haase said her daughter, a senior, texted while hiding in a classroom with the lights off during the lockdown. Haase said lockdowns have happened too frequently at the school this year and she was frustrated.

Denver Public School confirmed the victims were administrators.

Wednesday was also the second anniversary of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/boulder-supermarket-shooting">10 people being shot and killed</a>&nbsp;at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said she wasn’t sure whether President Joe Biden had been briefed on the school shooting, but said, “Our hearts go out to the families of the two school administrators in Denver today, and to the entire school community.”

She repeated Biden’s called for stricter gun laws, including bans on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and for Congress to “do something” on gun control.

DENVER (AP) — Two school administrators were shot Wednesday morning at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">Denver high school</a>&nbsp;during a confrontation that occurred after a handgun was found on a student subjected to daily searches, authorities said.

The male, juvenile suspect remained at large and the gun was not immediately recovered following the shooting at East High School, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an area away from classrooms as the student was undergoing a search as part of a “safety plan" that required him to be patted down daily, officials said.

One of the administrators was critically injured and was undergoing surgery at an area hospital. The second victim was in stable condition, Thomas said. Both victims are male.

Thomas said police know the identity of the suspect and were confident they would apprehend him.

"He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as we’ve learned this morning,” Denver Mayor Michael Hancock warned as law enforcement searched for the suspect.

Earlier this month students from the school skipped class and marched to Colorado’s state Capitol to demand stricter gun laws, following the death of a fellow student who was shot while sitting in a car near the school, which has about 2,500 students.

There were no school resource officers on campus at the time of Wednesday's shooting, Thomas said. But following the shooting, Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said two armed officers will be posted at East High School through the end of the school year.

The suspect in Wednesday’s shooting had transferred to East High School from another district, Marrero said. Officials did not reveal why the student was being searched daily.

Parent Jess Haase said her daughter, a senior, texted while hiding in a classroom with the lights off during the lockdown. Haase said lockdowns have happened too frequently at the school this year and she was frustrated. She planned to talk to her daughter about taking her out of school for the rest of the school year.

DENVER (AP) — Two school administrators were shot on Wednesday morning at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">Denver high school</a>&nbsp;after a handgun was found on a student subjected to daily searches, authorities said.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/school-shootings">shooting</a>&nbsp;happened just before 10 a.m. in an area away from classrooms as the student was undergoing a daily search as part of a “safety plan,” officials said. One of the administrators was critically injured and was undergoing surgery at an area hospital. The second victim was in stable condition, Thomas said. Both victims are male.

"He obviously is armed and dangerous and willing to use the weapon, as we’ve learned this morning,” said Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, warning the community as they search for the suspect.

Earlier this month students from the school skipped class and marched to Colorado’s state Capitol to demand stricter gun laws, following the death of a fellow student who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

School shootings have become&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-health-texas-violence-928c177ee8e09b59507c88d9c5b6ce51">increasingly common</a>&nbsp;in the U.S. with 1,045 shootings recorded between 2000 and 2021, according to research from the Naval Postgraduate School and Center for Homeland Defense and Security. More than 300 people were killed and 450 injured in the shootings during that time.

The school, not far from downtown near a busy street that cuts through the city, was placed on lockdown as police investigated the shooting.

Some parents and students who gathered outside the school vented their frustration over violence at the school as they surrounded Thomas, the police chief.

Thomas listened quietly, nodding and promising to engage with the school board. One man shouted that it was a problem of “evil in the world” while a girl said the violence wouldn’t happen if guns weren’t so easily available. Another man lamented that the school should have a school resource officer.

Parent Jess Haase said her daughter, a senior, texted while hiding in her classroom with the lights off during the lockdown that followed the shooting.

Haase said the lockdowns have happened too frequently at the school this year and she was frustrated. She planned to talk to her daughter about taking her out of school for the coming weeks.

DENVER (AP) — Two school administrators were shot at a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/teen-gun-violence-denver-march-20b6acfd88edbc6e5c949a08aba45941">Denver high school</a>&nbsp;Wednesday morning after a handgun was found during a search of a student, authorities said.

The juvenile suspect remained at large and the gun was not immediately recovered following the shooting at East High School, Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

The shooting happened at around 10 a.m. in an area away from classrooms as the student was undergoing a daily search as part of a “safety plan,” officials said. One of the administrators was critically injured and is undergoing surgery. The second victim was in stable condition, Thomas said.

Police know the identity of the suspect and were confident they would apprehend him, he said.

Earlier this month students from the school skipped class and and marched to Colorado’s state Capitol to demand stricter gun laws, following the death of a fellow student who was shot while sitting in a car near the school.

The suspect in Wednesday's shooting had transferred to East High School from another district, Denver Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero said. Officials did not reveal why the student was subject to daily searches.

Police: Boy shoots 2 administrators at Denver high school

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, opting to send a refurbished older model that can be ready faster, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone by the fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

The original plan was to send Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">31 of the newer M1A2 Abrams</a>, which could have taken a year or two to build and ship. But officials said the decision was made to send the older M1A1 version, which can be taken from Army stocks. Officials said the M1A1 also will be easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain as they fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the invading Russian forces</a>.

“This is about getting this important combat capability into the hands of the Ukrainians sooner rather than later,” said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.

The Biden administration announced in January that it would send the tanks to Ukraine — after insisting for months that they were too complicated and too hard to maintain and repair. The decision was part of a broader political maneuver that opened the door for Germany to announce it would send its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-german-tanks-435da2221bf452a8aae9d2e58d23acae">Leopard 2 tanks</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine and allow Poland and other allies to do the same.

Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Ryder said the tanks will be refurbished and refitted to make them combat ready for Ukraine. He declined to say where that work will be done.

It's unclear how soon the U.S. would begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use, maintain and repair the tanks. The intention would be to have the training of the troops coincide with the refurbishment of the tanks, so that both would be ready for battle at the same time later this year, said U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not publicly provided. The Pentagon will also have to ensure that Ukrainian forces have an adequate supply chain for all the parts needed to keep the tanks running.

The Russian and Ukrainian forces have been largely in a stalemate, trading small slices of land over the winter. The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the face of dogged Ukrainian defense. But both sides are expected to launch more intensive offensives in the spring.

Asked about the timing of the tanks' arrival, Ryder said the Abrams are part of the medium- and longer-term military support the U.S. is providing to Ukraine. He said that as Ukrainian forces take or retake territory, they will also need to sustain those gains and deter Russia from regaining any footholds.

During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-business-55e3f4ef1696ca381e069883d5836399">a visit to a tank plant in Lima, Ohio,</a>&nbsp;in February, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth met with officials there at length to determine the best options for getting the tanks to Ukraine.

“Part of it is figuring out — among the different options — what’s the best one that can allow us to get the Ukrainians tanks in as timely a fashion as we can,” without disrupting foreign military sales, Wormuth said at the time.

Officials at the plant, which is owned by the Army and operated by Reston, Virginia-based General Dynamics, said production totals can vary, based on contract demands. And while they are currently building 15-20 armored vehicles per month, including tanks, they can easily boost that to 33 a month and could add another shift of workers and build even more if needed.

Development of tanks for Ukraine would have to be squeezed in between the current contracts for foreign sales, which include 250 of the newest versions for Poland and about 75 for Australia. During Wormuth’s tour of the plant, workers were preparing to build an updated version of the vehicle for Poland.

Ukrainian leaders have persistently pressed for the Abrams, which first deployed to war in 1991 and has thick armor, a 120 mm main gun, armor-piercing capabilities and advanced targeting systems. It runs on thick tracked wheels and has a 1,500-horsepower turbine engine with a top speed of about 42 miles per hour (68 kilometers per hour).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679445740889.png" alt="The Defense Department announced Tuesday it will send tanks similar to the M1A1s used in this 2015 training exercise to Ukraine by the fall-photo Defense Dept." />
 <figcaption>The Defense Department announced Tuesday it will send tanks similar to the M1A1s used in this 2015 training exercise to Ukraine by the fall-photo Defense Dept.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is speeding up its delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, opting to send a refurbished older model that can be ready faster, with the aim of getting the 70-ton battle powerhouses to the war zone by the fall, the Pentagon said Tuesday.The original plan was to send Ukraine&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-germany-7b63726a3935da3f03424e98e52a85b2">31 of the newer M1A2 Abrams</a>, which could have taken a year or two to build and ship. But officials said the decision was made to send the older M1A1 version, which can be taken from Army stocks. Officials said the M1A1 also will be easier for Ukrainian forces to learn to use and maintain as they fight&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">the invading Russian forces</a>.“This is about getting this important combat capability into the hands of the Ukrainians sooner rather than later,” said Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary.The Biden administration announced in January that it would send the tanks to Ukraine — after insisting for months that they were too complicated and too hard to maintain and repair. The decision was part of a broader political maneuver that opened the door for Germany to announce it would send its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-german-tanks-435da2221bf452a8aae9d2e58d23acae">Leopard 2 tanks</a>&nbsp;to Ukraine and allow Poland and other allies to do the same.Speaking at a Pentagon press conference, Ryder said the tanks will be refurbished and refitted to make them combat ready for Ukraine. He declined to say where that work will be done.It's unclear how soon the U.S. would begin training Ukrainian forces on how to use, maintain and repair the tanks. The intention would be to have the training of the troops coincide with the refurbishment of the tanks, so that both would be ready for battle at the same time later this year, said U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not publicly provided. The Pentagon will also have to ensure that Ukrainian forces have an adequate supply chain for all the parts needed to keep the tanks running.The Russian and Ukrainian forces have been largely in a stalemate, trading small slices of land over the winter. The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut in the face of dogged Ukrainian defense. But both sides are expected to launch more intensive offensives in the spring.Asked about the timing of the tanks' arrival, Ryder said the Abrams are part of the medium- and longer-term military support the U.S. is providing to Ukraine. He said that as Ukrainian forces take or retake territory, they will also need to sustain those gains and deter Russia from regaining any footholds.During&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-military-technology-business-55e3f4ef1696ca381e069883d5836399">a visit to a tank plant in Lima, Ohio,</a>&nbsp;in February, Army Secretary Christine Wormuth met with officials there at length to determine the best options for getting the tanks to Ukraine.“Part of it is figuring out — among the different options — what’s the best one that can allow us to get the Ukrainians tanks in as timely a fashion as we can,” without disrupting foreign military sales, Wormuth said at the time.Officials at the plant, which is owned by the Army and operated by Reston, Virginia-based General Dynamics, said production totals can vary, based on contract demands. And while they are currently building 15-20 armored vehicles per month, including tanks, they can easily boost that to 33 a month and could add another shift of workers and build even more if needed.Development of tanks for Ukraine would have to be squeezed in between the current contracts for foreign sales, which include 250 of the newest versions for Poland and about 75 for Australia. During Wormuth’s tour of the plant, workers were preparing to build an updated version of the vehicle for Poland.Ukrainian leaders have persistently pressed for the Abrams, which first deployed to war in 1991 and has thick armor, a 120 mm main gun, armor-piercing capabilities and advanced targeting systems. It runs on thick tracked wheels and has a 1,500-horsepower turbine engine with a top speed of about 42 miles per hour (68 kilometers per hour).

US to accelerate delivery of tanks to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill&nbsp; that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.

The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. It cites “potential links” between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The law allows for redactions to protect sensitive sources and methods.

U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the deadly virus. Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1.1 million in the U.S. and millions more around the globe, may not be known for many years — if ever.

Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.

“My Administration will continue to review all classified information relating to COVID–19’s origins, including potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” he said. “In implementing this legislation, my Administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676821587118.png" alt="Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill&nbsp; that directs the federal government to declassify as much intelligence as possible about the origins of COVID-19 more than three years after the start of the pandemic.The legislation, which passed both the House and Senate without dissent, directs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to declassify intelligence related to China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology. It cites “potential links” between the research that was done there and the outbreak of COVID-19, which the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020. The law allows for redactions to protect sensitive sources and methods.U.S. intelligence agencies are divided over whether a lab leak or a spillover from animals is the likely source of the deadly virus. Experts say the true origin of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 1.1 million in the U.S. and millions more around the globe, may not be known for many years — if ever.Biden, in a statement, said he was pleased to sign the legislation.“My Administration will continue to review all classified information relating to COVID–19’s origins, including potential links to the Wuhan Institute of Virology,” he said. “In implementing this legislation, my Administration will declassify and share as much of that information as possible, consistent with my constitutional authority to protect against the disclosure of information that would harm national security.”

Biden signs the bill to release all info on origins of COVID

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-gov-pillen-urges-awareness-advocacy-for-those-with-developmental-disabilities/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen joined the 
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and people with 
developmental disabilities on Tuesday to proclaim March as Developmental
 Disabilities Awareness Month.

Pillen said it’s “really, really 
important” to keep alive the designation that President Ronald Reagan 
began in 1987, in order to help with advocacy and support for people 
with disabilities.

“Every person matters, and we need to
 put in a special month where we recognize and support the families that
 have developmental disabilities,” Pillen said. “We’re encouraging, and 
we are supporting and we are helping all others have normal, meaningful,
 purposeful lives every single day.”

Tony Green, director of the division 
of developmental disabilities, said the state supports more than 5,100 
Nebraskans with developmental disabilities who are living, working and 
leading productive lives in their local communities.

“The purpose of this proclamation was
 and continues to be today to urge Americans to provide individuals with
 intellectual and developmental disabilities the encouragement and 
support and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and achieve
 their full potential goals and dreams,” Green said.

In addition, Green said, the 
designation brings awareness. He said this includes the barriers that 
people with disabilities continue to face, such as in employment.

Sarah Fuenning, a 27-year-old 
employee who wraps bakery items at a Hy-Vee in Lincoln, was among those 
attending the event at the State Capitol.&nbsp;

“Hy-Vee is great for hiring people with special needs,” Fuenning told those attending.

Jeanne Thomas, human resources manager at the Hy-Vee where Fuenning works, said she met Fuenning in November 2021.&nbsp;

Fuenning was excited during her 
interview to get started, Thomas said. Thomas added that Fuenning has 
done an excellent job while bringing fun to work.

“We have a lot of bad days. She’s certainly there to brighten them up for us,” Thomas said.

Thomas said Fuenning is one of many 
Hy-Vee employees with disabilities and said the company continues&nbsp; to 
increase diversity and inclusion for all involved.

“We feel like everyone should be included,” Thomas said. “Everyone should be welcomed.”

Pillen encouraged Nebraskans to 
contact their state senators regarding his education funding proposals 
in the Legislature, including increases to <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-wants-2-5-billion-in-new-funding-for-schools-property-tax-relief/">special education</a> funding.

or example, <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB583.pdf">Legislative Bill 583</a>, introduced by State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue — would cost $157 million each year for special education funding.

“Nebraskans are willing to lend a helping hand “no matter what the set of specific circumstances are,” Pillen said.

“Hopefully raising awareness can help
 all Nebraskans make sure that we just keep doing better and better. 
It’s really important to everybody that we just keep raising the 
awareness so that we all can find a purpose,” Pillen said. “As I like to
 say: Together we can.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679428012109.png" alt="Gov. Jim Pillen designated March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. He is flanked by Kristen Larsen, at right, executive director of the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Quinton Corwin, a council member. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Gov. Jim Pillen designated March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. He is flanked by Kristen Larsen, at right, executive director of the Nebraska Council on Developmental Disabilities, and Quinton Corwin, a council member. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-gov-pillen-urges-awareness-advocacy-for-those-with-developmental-disabilities/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Gov. Jim Pillen joined the 
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services and people with 
developmental disabilities on Tuesday to proclaim March as Developmental
 Disabilities Awareness Month.Pillen said it’s “really, really 
important” to keep alive the designation that President Ronald Reagan 
began in 1987, in order to help with advocacy and support for people 
with disabilities.“Every person matters, and we need to
 put in a special month where we recognize and support the families that
 have developmental disabilities,” Pillen said. “We’re encouraging, and 
we are supporting and we are helping all others have normal, meaningful,
 purposeful lives every single day.”<h2>Raising awareness</h2>Tony Green, director of the division 
of developmental disabilities, said the state supports more than 5,100 
Nebraskans with developmental disabilities who are living, working and 
leading productive lives in their local communities.“The purpose of this proclamation was
 and continues to be today to urge Americans to provide individuals with
 intellectual and developmental disabilities the encouragement and 
support and opportunities they need to lead productive lives and achieve
 their full potential goals and dreams,” Green said.In addition, Green said, the 
designation brings awareness. He said this includes the barriers that 
people with disabilities continue to face, such as in employment.<h2>‘Everyone should be included’</h2>Sarah Fuenning, a 27-year-old 
employee who wraps bakery items at a Hy-Vee in Lincoln, was among those 
attending the event at the State Capitol.&nbsp;“Hy-Vee is great for hiring people with special needs,” Fuenning told those attending.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679428118327.jpeg" alt="Jeanne Thomas and Sarah Fuenning, both of Hy-Vee, after speaking at a news conference regarding developmental disabilities on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jeanne Thomas and Sarah Fuenning, both of Hy-Vee, after speaking at a news conference regarding developmental disabilities on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Jeanne Thomas, human resources manager at the Hy-Vee where Fuenning works, said she met Fuenning in November 2021.&nbsp;Fuenning was excited during her 
interview to get started, Thomas said. Thomas added that Fuenning has 
done an excellent job while bringing fun to work.“We have a lot of bad days. She’s certainly there to brighten them up for us,” Thomas said.Thomas said Fuenning is one of many 
Hy-Vee employees with disabilities and said the company continues&nbsp; to 
increase diversity and inclusion for all involved.“We feel like everyone should be included,” Thomas said. “Everyone should be welcomed.”<h2>‘Together we can’</h2>Pillen encouraged Nebraskans to 
contact their state senators regarding his education funding proposals 
in the Legislature, including increases to <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/17/nebraska-gov-pillen-wants-2-5-billion-in-new-funding-for-schools-property-tax-relief/">special education</a> funding.or example, <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/FloorDocs/108/PDF/Intro/LB583.pdf">Legislative Bill 583</a>, introduced by State Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue — would cost $157 million each year for special education funding.“Nebraskans are willing to lend a helping hand “no matter what the set of specific circumstances are,” Pillen said.“Hopefully raising awareness can help
 all Nebraskans make sure that we just keep doing better and better. 
It’s really important to everybody that we just keep raising the 
awareness so that we all can find a purpose,” Pillen said. “As I like to
 say: Together we can.”

Neb. governor urges advocacy for developmentally disabled

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/voices-raised-digs-exchanged-in-debate-on-bill-to-block-minors-from-gender-altering-procedures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Voices rose and personal digs were exchanged Tuesday as the
 Nebraska Legislature opened debate on the controversial issue of 
banning minors from obtaining gender-altering procedures.

State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, the sponsor of Legislative Bill 
574, said her proposal was about protecting children from “irreversible 
and often dangerous procedures” to alter their gender.

Kauth said that in Europe, where there is much more experience about 
gender dysphoria or confusion, countries are “sounding the alarm” about 
allowing surgeries or drug treatments for minors to change genders.

Opponents, led by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, said LB 574 was about 
“bigotry, discrimination and hate,” and about denying the rights of 
parents and physicians to determine what’s best for their children and 
patients.

“Kids know who they are,” Hunt said. “This body is much more radical right than Nebraska. They aren’t asking us to do this.”

LB 574 is one of several “culture war” measures introduced in the 
2023 session and may indicate how far right the 49-seat Unicameral has 
shifted this year.

Debate over the bill strayed into questions about “collegiality” and 
“toxic politics” and whether LB 574 was part of a “national playbook” by
 conservatives over social issues such as trans rights. Several 
lawmakers commented on the difficulty of debating such a personal issue.

There was talk of dueling opinions from the medical community, with 
some senators arguing that the lack of agreement is a reason to support 
the bill.

The Nebraska Board of Health, a panel appointed by the governor, 
issued a statement Monday is support of banning such procedures, though 
the American and Nebraska Medical Associations opposed the bill, as did 
several other medical groups, including those representing pediatricians
 and psychiatrists.

At least eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah&nbsp;—&nbsp;have passed similar bans on gender-altering procedures.

But Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh pointed out that Arkansas’ law, which 
served as the model for LB 574, has been blocked by a lawsuit, and the 
8th Circuit Court of Appeals has indicated the measure is likely to be 
thrown out as discriminatory.

As debate opened, Hunt filed a motion to kill the bill, pledging that
 if LB 574 advanced, the endless string of time-consuming filibusters —&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/22/heartbeat-abortion-bill-and-measure-blocking-gender-altering-procedures-sent-to-full-legislature/">conducted over the past several weeks</a> by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh — would return.

But after a morning-long debate, Hunt’s motion failed on a 13-31 
vote. That would leave LB 574 two votes short of the 33 needed to 
overcome a filibuster on the bill.

Debate on the bill is expected to extend into Thursday, when a 
“cloture” vote will be taken to end the filibuster and advance the bill.

Opponents said LB 574 lacks the vote to advance. <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/17/nebraska-lawmakers-file-minority-statement-ahead-of-debate-on-trans-health-care-bill/">Kauth, who has 24 cosponsors on her bill, has acknowledged</a> that it’s possible she doesn’t have the necessary 33 supporters.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679422357165.png" alt="Phoenix Braatz, right, and Lou Braatz, both of Lincoln were among those attending Tuesday’s debate on LB 574. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Phoenix Braatz, right, and Lou Braatz, both of Lincoln were among those attending Tuesday’s debate on LB 574. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/voices-raised-digs-exchanged-in-debate-on-bill-to-block-minors-from-gender-altering-procedures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Voices rose and personal digs were exchanged Tuesday as the
 Nebraska Legislature opened debate on the controversial issue of 
banning minors from obtaining gender-altering procedures.State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha, the sponsor of Legislative Bill 
574, said her proposal was about protecting children from “irreversible 
and often dangerous procedures” to alter their gender.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679423232125.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Kathleen Kauth of Omaha. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kauth said that in Europe, where there is much more experience about 
gender dysphoria or confusion, countries are “sounding the alarm” about 
allowing surgeries or drug treatments for minors to change genders.Opponents, led by Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, said LB 574 was about 
“bigotry, discrimination and hate,” and about denying the rights of 
parents and physicians to determine what’s best for their children and 
patients.<h2>‘Kids know who they are’</h2>“Kids know who they are,” Hunt said. “This body is much more radical right than Nebraska. They aren’t asking us to do this.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658497645303.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha. (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>LB 574 is one of several “culture war” measures introduced in the 
2023 session and may indicate how far right the 49-seat Unicameral has 
shifted this year.Debate over the bill strayed into questions about “collegiality” and 
“toxic politics” and whether LB 574 was part of a “national playbook” by
 conservatives over social issues such as trans rights. Several 
lawmakers commented on the difficulty of debating such a personal issue.There was talk of dueling opinions from the medical community, with 
some senators arguing that the lack of agreement is a reason to support 
the bill.The Nebraska Board of Health, a panel appointed by the governor, 
issued a statement Monday is support of banning such procedures, though 
the American and Nebraska Medical Associations opposed the bill, as did 
several other medical groups, including those representing pediatricians
 and psychiatrists.At least eight states — Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Mississippi, South Dakota, Tennessee and Utah&nbsp;—&nbsp;have passed similar bans on gender-altering procedures.But Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh pointed out that Arkansas’ law, which 
served as the model for LB 574, has been blocked by a lawsuit, and the 
8th Circuit Court of Appeals has indicated the measure is likely to be 
thrown out as discriminatory.<h2>Filibusters to return?</h2>As debate opened, Hunt filed a motion to kill the bill, pledging that
 if LB 574 advanced, the endless string of time-consuming filibusters —&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/02/22/heartbeat-abortion-bill-and-measure-blocking-gender-altering-procedures-sent-to-full-legislature/">conducted over the past several weeks</a> by Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh — would return.But after a morning-long debate, Hunt’s motion failed on a 13-31 
vote. That would leave LB 574 two votes short of the 33 needed to 
overcome a filibuster on the bill.Debate on the bill is expected to extend into Thursday, when a 
“cloture” vote will be taken to end the filibuster and advance the bill.Opponents said LB 574 lacks the vote to advance. <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/17/nebraska-lawmakers-file-minority-statement-ahead-of-debate-on-trans-health-care-bill/">Kauth, who has 24 cosponsors on her bill, has acknowledged</a> that it’s possible she doesn’t have the necessary 33 supporters.

Gender-altering procedure ban causes stir in Neb. Legislature

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/nebraska-girl-scouts-seek-gov-pillens-support-in-designating-official-state-tartan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 —&nbsp;Four Girl Scouts in Senior Honor Troop 42146 are getting involved in 
Nebraska politics with one request: for Gov. Jim Pillen to designate an 
official state tartan.

A tartan is a woolen cloth woven in a
 plaid pattern. Tartans are culturally important for Scottish and Irish 
families but are also worn worldwide. Originally in Scotland, tartans 
were used to identify families not necessarily related by blood.

“Here in Nebraska, we’re a family,” 
said Kathy Robbins-Wise, primary troop leader of 42146. “All you’ve got 
to do is look at Nebraska on a Husker game day and you know: We’re all 
family.”

Last year, then-Gov. Pete Ricketts 
proclaimed April 6 as Nebraska State Tartan Day, which allowed a local 
task force to register a “Nebraska” tartan with The Scottish Registry of
 Tartans. That design is now freely available for use.

The four-member Girl Scout troop 
hopes the tartan will be added to the official state symbols, such as 
Kool-aid, milk, the honeybee and the goldenrod.

Nebraska would join more than 37 
states, as well as all branches of the U.S. Armed Services and the 
national government, which have their own tartans.

Ricketts declined to make the 
official designation but encouraged the Scouts to ask the Legislature 
instead. The troop is seeking Pillen’s approval before March 31 to earn a
 Silver Award for all members of the troop who helped, with support from
 state lawmakers.

“Nebraskans work hard each and every 
day,” said Cassandra Lucas, a 15-year-old troop member. “The tartan is 
something that Nebraskans can see and touch and represents unity with 
their community.”

State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who was a Girl Scout, is one of those lawmakers helping.

She said she’s seen the girls learn 
legislative procedures. She said she will introduce legislation in 
January to designate the tartan if Pillen does not act before then.

“Today it’s a tartan, but tomorrow is
 it going to be taxes or Health and Human Services?” Blood said. “I love
 that they learned how the process works and that if they use their 
voice, they can get something as a result of that. They’re finding out 
that they have power.”

Before 1997, all state symbols were 
designated through legislative action, but the Legislature granted the 
governor the authority to do so that year.

Then-Gov. Ben Nelson, for example, designated <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/11-19.pdf">various state symbols</a>,
 including Kool-Aid (state soft drink), milk (state beverage), the 
Platte River (state river) and square dance (state American folk dance).

It’s because of that <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=90-119">authority</a> the Girl Scouts are hoping to find an ally in Pillen.

Robbins-Wise said Ricketts did not 
exercise the authority because it was “tradition” that cultural matters 
go through the Legislature.

“The tartan is a beautiful way to 
symbolize the people and land of Nebraska while acknowledging the 
contributions of those before us,” said Katie Rice, a 14-year-old troop 
member. “I’m glad to be able to help present this tartan to others and 
make it our official state tartan.”

Robbins-Wise said it’s been 
gratifying to watch the group grow into young ladies. She has known some
 of the girls since kindergarten.

“They’re the leaders of tomorrow, and
 these girls are coming up with ideas and they’re finding information,” 
Robbins-Wise said. “It just really makes my heart full to see them 
blossom the way they have.”

The “Nebraska” tartan includes six colors with some symbolism derived from “Beautiful Nebraska,” the official state song.

Blue represents the state’s rivers, 
yellow the prairies and Sand Hills, green the state’s trees and 
agriculture, black the state’s railroads, scarlet the “bloodshed of 
those gone before us” and white the state’s motto: “Equality Before the 
Law.”

“I believe that it is important to 
recognize what the state of Nebraska offers to not only the people of 
Nebraska but the nation as a whole,” said Madison Ensign, a 15-year-old 
troop member.

Pillen’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment about the tartan.

“I think it is a really good way to 
celebrate the Nebraska culture. I think it is a way we can show our 
appreciation for the land and the people,” said Catherine Johnson, a 
15-year-old troop member.

Susan Ritta, radio DJ for KZUM’s 
Thunder on the Plains in Lincoln, Nebraska’s only Celtic music radio 
show, said the idea for the tartan began in early 2019.

Ritta said she noticed that Nebraska 
was not among the states with a state tartan and contacted various 
organizations about starting an effort to have one.&nbsp;

Together, Ritta said, they worked to 
ensure that the design would be “for all Nebraskans and not just one 
person” and that everybody could take ownership and pride in it.

“That’s what I’m really proud of is 
the fact that we are all able to come together even with our own 
individual perspectives and viewpoints and goals for our organizations,”
 Ritta said.

Members of the Nebraska State Tartan Task Force:

Ritta said the efforts by the Girl Scouts show the next generation stepping up to shape the state’s history.

“I really think that these Girl 
Scouts being a part of this organization are going to stand out in the 
fact that women are making it happen or making this officially happen at
 the state level, one way or the other,” Ritta said. “We could not have 
done this without their efforts.”

Nebraska has adopted numerous state 
symbols since its founding, with nearly half of the designations coming 
from the Nebraska Legislature. Those denoted by an asterisk were 
designated by a governor.

State name: “Cornhusker State” (1945), previously the “Tree Planters’ State” (1895)

State flag: State seal in gold and silver on a field of national blue (1925)

State tree:&nbsp;Cottonwood (1972), previously the American elm (1937)

State gemstone: Blue chalcedony, commonly known as blue agate (1967)

State song:&nbsp;“Beautiful Nebraska” (1967)

State soil: Soils of the Holdredge series, classified as Typic Argiustols (1979)

State American folk dance: Square dance (1997)*

State ballad: “A Place Like Nebraska” by Sol Kutler (1997)*

State historic baseball capital:&nbsp;St. Paul, Nebraska (1997)*

State baseball capital:&nbsp;Wakefield, Nebraska (1997)*

State village of lights:&nbsp;Cody, Nebraska (1997)*

State migratory bird: Sandhill crane (2022)*

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679421974178.png" alt="Members of Girl Scout Senior Honor Troop 42146 have stepped up on efforts for Nebraska to have an official state tartan, a woolen cloth woven in several plaid patterns important to Scottish and Irish cultures. The troop is pictured in June 2022 at a camp in the Apostle Islands. From left, Cassandra Lucas, Jessica Johnson, Madison Ensign, Katie Rice, Kathy Robbins-Wise, Catherine Johnson and Patricia Lucas. (Courtesy of Kathy Robbins-Wise)" />
 <figcaption>Members of Girl Scout Senior Honor Troop 42146 have stepped up on efforts for Nebraska to have an official state tartan, a woolen cloth woven in several plaid patterns important to Scottish and Irish cultures. The troop is pictured in June 2022 at a camp in the Apostle Islands. From left, Cassandra Lucas, Jessica Johnson, Madison Ensign, Katie Rice, Kathy Robbins-Wise, Catherine Johnson and Patricia Lucas. (Courtesy of Kathy Robbins-Wise)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/21/nebraska-girl-scouts-seek-gov-pillens-support-in-designating-official-state-tartan/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 —&nbsp;Four Girl Scouts in Senior Honor Troop 42146 are getting involved in 
Nebraska politics with one request: for Gov. Jim Pillen to designate an 
official state tartan.A tartan is a woolen cloth woven in a
 plaid pattern. Tartans are culturally important for Scottish and Irish 
families but are also worn worldwide. Originally in Scotland, tartans 
were used to identify families not necessarily related by blood.“Here in Nebraska, we’re a family,” 
said Kathy Robbins-Wise, primary troop leader of 42146. “All you’ve got 
to do is look at Nebraska on a Husker game day and you know: We’re all 
family.”Last year, then-Gov. Pete Ricketts 
proclaimed April 6 as Nebraska State Tartan Day, which allowed a local 
task force to register a “Nebraska” tartan with The Scottish Registry of
 Tartans. That design is now freely available for use.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679422115659.jpeg" alt="Girl Scouts in Senior Honor Troop 42146 Katie Rice, left, and Catherine Johnson, right, present State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue with a scarf bearing what could be Nebraska’s official tartan on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Courtesy of State Sen. Carol Blood)" />
 <figcaption>Girl Scouts in Senior Honor Troop 42146 Katie Rice, left, and Catherine Johnson, right, present State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue with a scarf bearing what could be Nebraska’s official tartan on Monday, March 13, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. (Courtesy of State Sen. Carol Blood)</figcaption>
 </figure>The four-member Girl Scout troop 
hopes the tartan will be added to the official state symbols, such as 
Kool-aid, milk, the honeybee and the goldenrod.Nebraska would join more than 37 
states, as well as all branches of the U.S. Armed Services and the 
national government, which have their own tartans.Ricketts declined to make the 
official designation but encouraged the Scouts to ask the Legislature 
instead. The troop is seeking Pillen’s approval before March 31 to earn a
 Silver Award for all members of the troop who helped, with support from
 state lawmakers.“Nebraskans work hard each and every 
day,” said Cassandra Lucas, a 15-year-old troop member. “The tartan is 
something that Nebraskans can see and touch and represents unity with 
their community.”<h2>‘Leaders of tomorrow’</h2>State Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue, who was a Girl Scout, is one of those lawmakers helping.She said she’s seen the girls learn 
legislative procedures. She said she will introduce legislation in 
January to designate the tartan if Pillen does not act before then.“Today it’s a tartan, but tomorrow is
 it going to be taxes or Health and Human Services?” Blood said. “I love
 that they learned how the process works and that if they use their 
voice, they can get something as a result of that. They’re finding out 
that they have power.”Before 1997, all state symbols were 
designated through legislative action, but the Legislature granted the 
governor the authority to do so that year.Then-Gov. Ben Nelson, for example, designated <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/pdf/bluebook/11-19.pdf">various state symbols</a>,
 including Kool-Aid (state soft drink), milk (state beverage), the 
Platte River (state river) and square dance (state American folk dance).It’s because of that <a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/laws/statutes.php?statute=90-119">authority</a> the Girl Scouts are hoping to find an ally in Pillen.Robbins-Wise said Ricketts did not 
exercise the authority because it was “tradition” that cultural matters 
go through the Legislature.“The tartan is a beautiful way to 
symbolize the people and land of Nebraska while acknowledging the 
contributions of those before us,” said Katie Rice, a 14-year-old troop 
member. “I’m glad to be able to help present this tartan to others and 
make it our official state tartan.”Robbins-Wise said it’s been 
gratifying to watch the group grow into young ladies. She has known some
 of the girls since kindergarten.“They’re the leaders of tomorrow, and
 these girls are coming up with ideas and they’re finding information,” 
Robbins-Wise said. “It just really makes my heart full to see them 
blossom the way they have.”<h2>Meaning behind every color</h2>The “Nebraska” tartan includes six colors with some symbolism derived from “Beautiful Nebraska,” the official state song.Blue represents the state’s rivers, 
yellow the prairies and Sand Hills, green the state’s trees and 
agriculture, black the state’s railroads, scarlet the “bloodshed of 
those gone before us” and white the state’s motto: “Equality Before the 
Law.”“I believe that it is important to 
recognize what the state of Nebraska offers to not only the people of 
Nebraska but the nation as a whole,” said Madison Ensign, a 15-year-old 
troop member.Pillen’s office didn’t respond to a request for comment about the tartan.“I think it is a really good way to 
celebrate the Nebraska culture. I think it is a way we can show our 
appreciation for the land and the people,” said Catherine Johnson, a 
15-year-old troop member.<h2>Four years in the making</h2>Susan Ritta, radio DJ for KZUM’s 
Thunder on the Plains in Lincoln, Nebraska’s only Celtic music radio 
show, said the idea for the tartan began in early 2019.Ritta said she noticed that Nebraska 
was not among the states with a state tartan and contacted various 
organizations about starting an effort to have one.&nbsp;Together, Ritta said, they worked to 
ensure that the design would be “for all Nebraskans and not just one 
person” and that everybody could take ownership and pride in it.“That’s what I’m really proud of is 
the fact that we are all able to come together even with our own 
individual perspectives and viewpoints and goals for our organizations,”
 Ritta said.Members of the Nebraska State Tartan Task Force:<ul>
 <li>Susan Ritta, KZUM 89.3’s Thunder on the Plains.</li><li>Caryl Bohn, Robbins-Wise, and Morgan Wise, Scottish Society of Nebraska.</li><li>Lynn Johnson-Romero, Omaha Irish Cultural Center.</li><li>Dylan Tilley and Ben Coleman, Ancient Order of Hibernians-Lincoln.</li><li>Josh Haggin, Havala Shearer, and Chad Asherin, Metro Area Kilted Throwers.</li>
 </ul>Ritta said the efforts by the Girl Scouts show the next generation stepping up to shape the state’s history.“I really think that these Girl 
Scouts being a part of this organization are going to stand out in the 
fact that women are making it happen or making this officially happen at
 the state level, one way or the other,” Ritta said. “We could not have 
done this without their efforts.”<h2>State symbols</h2>Nebraska has adopted numerous state 
symbols since its founding, with nearly half of the designations coming 
from the Nebraska Legislature. Those denoted by an asterisk were 
designated by a governor.State name: “Cornhusker State” (1945), previously the “Tree Planters’ State” (1895)State flower: Goldenrod (1895)State flag: State seal in gold and silver on a field of national blue (1925)State bird: Western meadowlark (1929)State tree:&nbsp;Cottonwood (1972), previously the American elm (1937)State fossil:&nbsp;Mammoth (1967)State gemstone: Blue chalcedony, commonly known as blue agate (1967)State rock: Prairie agate (1967)State song:&nbsp;“Beautiful Nebraska” (1967)State grass: Little bluestem (1969)State insect: Honeybee (1975)State soil: Soils of the Holdredge series, classified as Typic Argiustols (1979)State mammal: White-tailed deer (1981)State fish: Channel catfish (1997)*State American folk dance: Square dance (1997)*State ballad: “A Place Like Nebraska” by Sol Kutler (1997)*State historic baseball capital:&nbsp;St. Paul, Nebraska (1997)*State baseball capital:&nbsp;Wakefield, Nebraska (1997)*State village of lights:&nbsp;Cody, Nebraska (1997)*State river:&nbsp;Platte River (1998)*State soft drink:&nbsp;Kool-Aid (1998)*State beverage: Milk (1998)*State migratory bird: Sandhill crane (2022)*State reptile: Ornate box turtle (2022)*

Nebraska Girl Scouts continue push for official state tartan

By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>

The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.

The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.

Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.

The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.

“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”

Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)

Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.

“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”

Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.

Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.

“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”

For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.

But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.

They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.

And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).

“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”

Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.

No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.

“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”

Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.

“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”

Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.

“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”

The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.

Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.

“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”

Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.

The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.

“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.

In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416090638.png" alt="Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service " />
 <figcaption>Michael, a volunteer pilot with Elevated Access, recently flew a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment at a Kansas clinic. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service </figcaption>
 </figure>By ROSE CONLON <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2023-03-21/abortion-pilots-planes-fly-state-bans-elevated-access">Kansas News Service</a>The pilot, clad in a blue windbreaker, pulls his single-engine, four-seater prop plane onto the tarmac.The
 small municipal airport sits in a state where abortion is now banned in
 virtually all cases. But a short flight away in Kansas, it remains 
legal. That’s launched a wave of travel from across the South and 
Midwest in pursuit of pills and procedures no longer legal in many 
places.Michael — who asked to only use his first name — is part 
of a growing group of hobby pilots who have begun ferrying people across
 state lines to get abortions and gender-affirming medical care, 
flouting local restrictions and bans. They’re volunteers with Elevated 
Access, an Illinois-based group that operates with degrees of secrecy 
because its work falls into gray legal territory.The flights 
spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, 
and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel.“There are tons of little airports like this dotted all over,” 
Michael says. “I try to avoid the big airports. Usually, we fly into one
 that’s closer to where they live.”Pilots donate their time and 
the use of their planes. Most also cover the cost of fuel, because 
private pilots can’t legally be compensated for flying. (The group is 
trying to get an exemption that would allow it to reimburse fuel costs.)Recently, Michael took a woman back home to the Deep South after an appointment <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/news/2022-08-22/abortion-kansas-vote-legal-but-clinics-cant-keep-up" target="_blank">at a Kansas clinic</a>.
 He loves to fly — he also does volunteer flights for an animal rescue 
group and he jumps at the chance to take family and friends up in the 
sky. But he said the Elevated Access flight felt different.“It’s 
maybe not the best time in a particular person’s life, or they’re going 
through a sensitive thing,” he said. “So I treat that with a lot of 
reverence.”Only a handful of people in Michael’s life know he’s 
part of the budding network of people helping women get abortions that 
have become illegal in their home states. He says some members of his 
family and some of his pilot friends oppose abortion. That’s not 
surprising — pilots tend to be older, whiter and more conservative than 
Americans generally. <a href="https://www.faa.gov/data_research/aviation_data_statistics/civil_airmen_statistics" target="_blank">Fewer than 10%</a> are women.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679416164286.png" alt="Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>Private flights spare people seeking stigmatized medical care from the costs, delays, and security checkpoints that go along with traditional travel. Rose Conlon / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>Soon after Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer and Elevated Access
 was launched, Michael posted a link to the organization in an online 
pilot forum. The blowback came immediately.“It was obviously a 
polarizing thing to have shared,” he said. “I’m glad I made quite a few 
pilots aware of it, even if it raised some ire. But I don’t talk about 
it a lot since then.”For pilots like Michael, most of whom have 
day jobs, the flights offer a chance to keep their flying skills sharp 
while supporting a cause they believe in.But for people trying to
 get to an abortion appointment several states away — maybe with just a 
few days’ notice — private flights can be game-changing.They can 
turn a multi-day drive into just a couple of hours, and they can take 
off much closer to a passenger’s home than a commercial airport. 
Elevated Access makes the flights free to passengers, who won’t have to 
purchase an expensive, last-minute plane ticket.And they’re 
virtually anonymous. Pilots only know a passengers’ first name and 
weight (to avoid exceeding small aircraft weight limits).“We 
don’t check ID because that’s not part of private aviation. There’s no 
ticketing or TSA or anything like that,” said Mike (not to be confused 
with Michael), the founder of Elevated Access. “If somebody feels like 
they need to use a fake first name, they can definitely do that.”Pilots are instructed not to ask passengers why they’re traveling. 
That relieves passengers of any pressure to explain or justify the 
services they’re seeking. But it’s also intended to give pilots 
plausible deniability in the face of potential legal threats. Some 
states are considering prosecuting those who help people get abortions, 
and Texas has already made them liable to lawsuits.No existing 
laws specifically target interstate travel, although Idaho could soon 
make it a crime to help a minor travel out of state for an abortion 
without parental consent. But legal experts say flying for Elevated 
Access still might involve some legal risk.“You could see an 
aggressive prosecutor trying to say, under the current laws, that, ‘We 
are going to charge this pilot with being an accessory to murder or an 
accessory to abortion,’” said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel 
University. “We haven’t seen prosecutors try that yet. But there’s good 
reason to believe that’s on the horizon.”Rachel Rebouché, dean of
 the Temple University Beasley School of Law, said there’s also a 
possibility that federal officials could place restrictions on 
abortion-related travel in U.S. air space.“This current 
administration would not try to use federal aviation powers to penalize 
people who are flying rather than driving,” she said. “But in years to 
come, depending on who’s elected, an anti-abortion administration could 
try to do that.”Elevated Access has completed “dozens and dozens” of flights and is 
growing rapidly, Mike said. More than 200 pilots have been vetted and 
more than 1,000 have expressed interest.“We don’t share our full 
numbers because we don’t want to become a target,” the group’s founder 
said. “We want to seem small for as long as possible.”The flights
 represent a minuscule fraction of the flood of abortion-related travel 
between states since many began enforcing bans last summer. But it’s a 
window into the increasingly scrappy tactics of the underground groups 
working to keep abortion accessible to people across the country.Rebouché said it reflects efforts by abortion rights organizations to be nimble in the face of legal uncertainty.“The
 threat of passing a law can itself chill behavior — or incite people to
 organize in different ways,” she said. “It’s an interesting dynamic, 
how this push-pull of potential policy is shaping both care, but also 
advocacy strategies.”Elevated Access works with partner groups 
like abortion funds to coordinate flights, usually after other options 
are exhausted — if a patient isn’t old enough to rent a car, or if their
 commercial flight was canceled.The idea for Elevated Access arose out of Mike’s experience 
volunteering with one of those organizations, Midwest Access Coalition, 
which helps people coordinate and pay for abortion-related travel.“I wanted to learn about abortion access because I thought pilots might be able to help,” he said.In
 the last year, Alison Dreith, the group’s director of strategic 
partnerships, has connected several clients with Elevated Access. Most 
have low incomes and some have never flown before.The organization’s first official passenger flew from Oklahoma to get an abortion in Kansas City, Kansas last summer.“She
 was a bit nervous about flying,” said Dreith. “But the pilot was able 
to walk out into the parking lot and walk her directly onto the 
airfield. It really feels like a V.I.P. experience.”Dreith said the flights prove particularly useful for people who 
don’t have the documents needed to fly commercially. That could include 
undocumented immigrants — or one of her recent clients, who contacted 
Midwest Access Coalition in December for help getting an abortion.“She was in a domestic violence situation where her abusive partner had destroyed her ID and birth certificate,” she said.Dreith
 traveled to North Carolina to get the woman away from the house where 
she was living. The woman thought she was around 16 weeks pregnant — and
 still legally eligible for an abortion, under the state’s 20-week limit
 — but wasn’t certain because her partner hadn’t allowed her to get an 
ultrasound or any prenatal care.When she got to a local clinic, 
the woman learned she was just past the state's limit. So Dreith 
contacted Elevated Access, which organized a flight back to the St. 
Louis area where the woman was from.After getting an abortion 
over the state line in Illinois, Dreith said the woman got help from a 
domestic violence group and is now living on her own.“She had 
been suicidal because she thought she was never going to get out of her 
situation,” Dreith said. “I don’t even have the superlatives to describe
 how thankful she was.”Rose Conlon reports on health for KMUW 
and the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter at 
@rosebconlon or email her at conlon@kmuw.org.