McCOOK — Weather permitting, a crack seal project will begin Monday on U.S. 83, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Crack sealing is a process of
cleaning and filling open joints and cracks in the surface with sealant to prevent entry of moisture and
debris.


State maintenance forces will be performing a crack seal from reference post 18 to reference post 26,
north edge of McCook to the Red Willow Creek Bridge. Anticipated completion is 15 working days. Traffic
will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.


Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.


NDOTMcCOOK — Weather permitting, a crack seal project will begin Monday on U.S. 83, according to the Nebraska Department of Transportation. Crack sealing is a process of
cleaning and filling open joints and cracks in the surface with sealant to prevent entry of moisture and
debris.
State maintenance forces will be performing a crack seal from reference post 18 to reference post 26,
north edge of McCook to the Red Willow Creek Bridge. Anticipated completion is 15 working days. Traffic
will be maintained with a pilot car and flaggers.
Motorists are reminded to drive cautiously in and near work zones, to buckle up, and put phones down.

Maintenance work begins on U.S. 83 near McCook

Twitter
 experienced a bevy of glitches Monday as links stopped working, some 
users were unable to log in and images were not loading for others.

The company, which has experienced an uptick instability and bugs in recent months after Elon Musk cut its staff sharply, <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1632792942262747136?s=20">said</a>
 “Some parts of Twitter may not be working as expected right now. We 
made an internal change that had some unintended consequences. We’re 
working on this now and will share an update when it’s fixed.”

Trying
 to visit Twitter’s help page Monday led to an error message that says 
“Your current API plan does not include access to this endpoint” and 
displays a link to a software developer page that also doesn’t work.

According
 to Downdetector, users began reporting the outages shortly before noon 
U.S. Eastern time. Internet access watchdog NetBlocks said “Twitter is 
currently experiencing international slowdowns and outages affecting 
many users,” and noted that it was also affecting image and video 
content. Some users were not able to see the images that other users 
were posting.

Twitter engineers and experts have been warning that
 the platform is at an increased risk of fraying since Musk fired most 
of the people who worked on keeping it running. Just last month, a bug 
left users <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-social-media-business-c429c905f9284b02356acf8c60719d9e">unable to send tweets</a>.

Already
 in November, engineers who left Twitter described for The Associated 
Press why they expect considerable unpleasantness for Twitter’s more 
than 230 million users now that well over two-thirds of the San 
Francisco-based company’s pre-Musk core services engineers are 
apparently gone.

While they don’t anticipate near-term collapse, 
the engineers said Twitter could get very rough at the edges — 
especially if Musk makes major changes without much off-platform 
testing.

Associated PressTwitter
 experienced a bevy of glitches Monday as links stopped working, some 
users were unable to log in and images were not loading for others.The company, which has experienced an uptick instability and bugs in recent months after Elon Musk cut its staff sharply, <a href="https://twitter.com/TwitterSupport/status/1632792942262747136?s=20">said</a>
 “Some parts of Twitter may not be working as expected right now. We 
made an internal change that had some unintended consequences. We’re 
working on this now and will share an update when it’s fixed.”Trying
 to visit Twitter’s help page Monday led to an error message that says 
“Your current API plan does not include access to this endpoint” and 
displays a link to a software developer page that also doesn’t work.According
 to Downdetector, users began reporting the outages shortly before noon 
U.S. Eastern time. Internet access watchdog NetBlocks said “Twitter is 
currently experiencing international slowdowns and outages affecting 
many users,” and noted that it was also affecting image and video 
content. Some users were not able to see the images that other users 
were posting.Twitter engineers and experts have been warning that
 the platform is at an increased risk of fraying since Musk fired most 
of the people who worked on keeping it running. Just last month, a bug 
left users <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-social-media-business-c429c905f9284b02356acf8c60719d9e">unable to send tweets</a>.Already
 in November, engineers who left Twitter described for The Associated 
Press why they expect considerable unpleasantness for Twitter’s more 
than 230 million users now that well over two-thirds of the San 
Francisco-based company’s pre-Musk core services engineers are 
apparently gone.While they don’t anticipate near-term collapse, 
the engineers said Twitter could get very rough at the edges — 
especially if Musk makes major changes without much off-platform 
testing.

Twitter glitches as links, images fail to load

By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/proposal-to-increase-nebraska-legislative-term-limits-to-three-terms-gains-momentum/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Nebraska lawmaker said 
Friday that allowing legislators to serve an additional four-year term 
could provide better, more effective representation and heal some damage
 done to the institution.

<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49959">Legislative Resolution 22CA</a>,
 proposed by State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, could let voters decide
 whether state legislators should serve three four-year terms, instead 
of two. The Legislature would first need to approve the measure.

Voters approved the two-term system in 2000, and it went into effect with the 2006 elections.

“I think that when we instituted term
 limits, we did a disservice to the people of Nebraska to term limit one
 senator,” Dover told the Executive Board, alluding to former State Sen.
 Ernie Chambers of Omaha. “And I think that was wrong.”

Other states have term limits on state lawmakers, but they do not have a Unicameral, Dover explained.

“As the senator is not able to 
continue using their accumulated knowledge in another house, this makes 
the Nebraska Legislature very susceptible to institutional knowledge 
loss,” Dover said.

Barry Kennedy testified in support on
 behalf of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater 
Omaha Chamber and the Lincoln Chamber.

Kennedy noted that in 2025, at least 
15 senators will not return due to term limits, and more could choose 
not to seek reelection. He said that about three-fifths of the 
Legislature will have no more than two years of experience.

In a business, Kennedy said employers would never dismiss employees after eight years.

“Typically by then you’re doing everything you can to keep them employed,” Kennedy said.

Jay Ferris with the Nebraska Farm 
Bureau said Nebraska has automatically kicked out “very effective” state
 senators every two years, so expanding term limits could stabilize this
 turnover and help them beat an arbitrary clock.

Ferris testified in support also on 
behalf of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Pork Producers
 Association and Nebraska Soybean Association.

Former State Sen. Al Davis testified 
in support for the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club and the Nebraska 
Farmers Union. He said Dover’s legislation could be “one of the most 
important” this session.

Davis noted staff turnover in the 
Legislature compared to executive branch agencies, which Kennedy said 
becomes a problem in the balance of power between branches.

For example, judges serve lifetime appointments, while the governor does have term limits.

But the knowledge at the ready for 
the governor can outbalance the Legislature, Kennedy said, where the 
citizenry is directly represented.

State Sen. John Lowe of Kearney, a 
member of the Executive Board and a cosponsor of the resolution, asked 
some supporters and Dover whether the lobby could have increased 
influence as a result of the legislation.

Dover said that while lobbyists could
 form longer relationships, thus increasing their power, the downside of
 not changing would be greater.

While no one testified against 
Dover’s proposal Friday, the measure has received criticism from the 
Liberty Initiative Fund, a Virginia-based organization. Its leader is 
also the former president of U.S. Term Limits, a group that helped get 
term limits passed in Nebraska.

The fund mailed hundreds of postcards
 to constituents of state senators who are supporting the proposal, 
stating that politicians were trying to “trick” voters.

Dover said he was surprised Friday 
the postcards went out so soon. He and other testifiers noted that if 
the Legislature does take up the proposal, a massive education campaign 
would be needed to get it over the finish line.

Ferris said the Farm Bureau could provide support for education as needed.

Unlike previous iterations of the 
three-term proposal, Dover’s resolution does not include language that 
would bar current incumbents from seeking a third term. Therefore, the 
10 legislators who won reelection in November could run for a third term
 in 2026 and serve through 2030.

Dover said this is by design because if voters approve the change, it should be immediate.

Bill Hawkins, testifying in a neutral
 capacity, noted that a state senator could be removed at any election, 
regardless of term limits.

“This building is full of dedicated 
people who make this state run, and you folks just get to represent 
them,” Hawkins said. “The citizens are watching.”

Current State Sens. Danielle Conrad 
of Lincoln, who returned this year, and Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, who
 returned in 2021 after sitting out a term because of term limits. Both 
signed onto Dover’s proposal.

Former State Sen. Steve Lathrop 
returned in 2019. State Sens. Mike Flood of Norfolk and Rich Pahls of 
Omaha returned in 2021. Lathrop retired, Flood is now in Congress and 
Pahls died in April 2022.

Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers of 
Omaha served from 1971 through 2008, returning in 2013. He was 
term-limited a second time in 2021. Chambers is so far the only 
legislator to have been term-limited twice, and he could run for another
 legislative seat in 2024 if he wishes.

Former Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed 
Dover in July to succeed Mike Flood after Flood’s special election to 
the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dover’s resolution has 39 cosponsors 
in the 49-member body, including seven of the nine members of the 
Executive Board (Speaker John Arch of La Vista and Tom Briese of Albion,
 chair of the Executive Board, did not sign on).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678116756880.png" alt="State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk explains a proposal to increase legislative term limits from two to three terms on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. Dover’s legislation has garnered 39 cosponsors. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk explains a proposal to increase legislative term limits from two to three terms on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Lincoln, Neb. Dover’s legislation has garnered 39 cosponsors. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ZACH WENDLING <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/03/03/proposal-to-increase-nebraska-legislative-term-limits-to-three-terms-gains-momentum/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;A Nebraska lawmaker said 
Friday that allowing legislators to serve an additional four-year term 
could provide better, more effective representation and heal some damage
 done to the institution.<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskalegislature.gov/bills/view_bill.php?DocumentID=49959">Legislative Resolution 22CA</a>,
 proposed by State Sen. Robert Dover of Norfolk, could let voters decide
 whether state legislators should serve three four-year terms, instead 
of two. The Legislature would first need to approve the measure.Voters approved the two-term system in 2000, and it went into effect with the 2006 elections.“I think that when we instituted term
 limits, we did a disservice to the people of Nebraska to term limit one
 senator,” Dover told the Executive Board, alluding to former State Sen.
 Ernie Chambers of Omaha. “And I think that was wrong.”Other states have term limits on state lawmakers, but they do not have a Unicameral, Dover explained.“As the senator is not able to 
continue using their accumulated knowledge in another house, this makes 
the Nebraska Legislature very susceptible to institutional knowledge 
loss,” Dover said.<h2>Freshman legislature</h2>Barry Kennedy testified in support on
 behalf of the Nebraska Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Greater 
Omaha Chamber and the Lincoln Chamber.Kennedy noted that in 2025, at least 
15 senators will not return due to term limits, and more could choose 
not to seek reelection. He said that about three-fifths of the 
Legislature will have no more than two years of experience.In a business, Kennedy said employers would never dismiss employees after eight years.“Typically by then you’re doing everything you can to keep them employed,” Kennedy said.Jay Ferris with the Nebraska Farm 
Bureau said Nebraska has automatically kicked out “very effective” state
 senators every two years, so expanding term limits could stabilize this
 turnover and help them beat an arbitrary clock.Ferris testified in support also on 
behalf of the Nebraska Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Pork Producers
 Association and Nebraska Soybean Association.<h2>Balance of power</h2>Former State Sen. Al Davis testified 
in support for the Nebraska chapter of the Sierra Club and the Nebraska 
Farmers Union. He said Dover’s legislation could be “one of the most 
important” this session.Davis noted staff turnover in the 
Legislature compared to executive branch agencies, which Kennedy said 
becomes a problem in the balance of power between branches.For example, judges serve lifetime appointments, while the governor does have term limits.But the knowledge at the ready for 
the governor can outbalance the Legislature, Kennedy said, where the 
citizenry is directly represented.State Sen. John Lowe of Kearney, a 
member of the Executive Board and a cosponsor of the resolution, asked 
some supporters and Dover whether the lobby could have increased 
influence as a result of the legislation.Dover said that while lobbyists could
 form longer relationships, thus increasing their power, the downside of
 not changing would be greater.<h2>‘Citizens are watching’</h2>While no one testified against 
Dover’s proposal Friday, the measure has received criticism from the 
Liberty Initiative Fund, a Virginia-based organization. Its leader is 
also the former president of U.S. Term Limits, a group that helped get 
term limits passed in Nebraska.The fund mailed hundreds of postcards
 to constituents of state senators who are supporting the proposal, 
stating that politicians were trying to “trick” voters.Dover said he was surprised Friday 
the postcards went out so soon. He and other testifiers noted that if 
the Legislature does take up the proposal, a massive education campaign 
would be needed to get it over the finish line.Ferris said the Farm Bureau could provide support for education as needed.Unlike previous iterations of the 
three-term proposal, Dover’s resolution does not include language that 
would bar current incumbents from seeking a third term. Therefore, the 
10 legislators who won reelection in November could run for a third term
 in 2026 and serve through 2030.Dover said this is by design because if voters approve the change, it should be immediate.Bill Hawkins, testifying in a neutral
 capacity, noted that a state senator could be removed at any election, 
regardless of term limits.He said voters should decide the issue.“This building is full of dedicated 
people who make this state run, and you folks just get to represent 
them,” Hawkins said. “The citizens are watching.”<h2>Senators who returned after term limits</h2>Current State Sens. Danielle Conrad 
of Lincoln, who returned this year, and Ray Aguilar of Grand Island, who
 returned in 2021 after sitting out a term because of term limits. Both 
signed onto Dover’s proposal.Former State Sen. Steve Lathrop 
returned in 2019. State Sens. Mike Flood of Norfolk and Rich Pahls of 
Omaha returned in 2021. Lathrop retired, Flood is now in Congress and 
Pahls died in April 2022.Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers of 
Omaha served from 1971 through 2008, returning in 2013. He was 
term-limited a second time in 2021. Chambers is so far the only 
legislator to have been term-limited twice, and he could run for another
 legislative seat in 2024 if he wishes.Former Gov. Pete Ricketts appointed 
Dover in July to succeed Mike Flood after Flood’s special election to 
the U.S. House of Representatives.Dover’s resolution has 39 cosponsors 
in the 49-member body, including seven of the nine members of the 
Executive Board (Speaker John Arch of La Vista and Tom Briese of Albion,
 chair of the Executive Board, did not sign on).

Proposal to increase Nebraska term limits gains momentum

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/former-state-poet-lincoln-photographer-collaborate-on-unique-rural-exhibit/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Photographer Michael 
Farrell and former State Poet Twyla Hansen have collaborated on a unique
 exhibit seeking to provide “clear-eyed views” of rural Nebraska.

“Seen in Otoe County” is a collection of 61 photographs accompanied 
by 30 poems in an exhibit that opened Friday at the WallSpace-LNK 
gallery, at 1624 S. 17th St. in Lincoln.

Large-format, black-and-white landscapes captured by Farrell of rural
 scenes are paired with poems penned by Hansen, who is an organic farmer
 as well as a poet.

Farrell said he asked Hansen, a longtime friend, to respond in poetry
 to photos he had produced in recent years from the backroads of Otoe 
County. The result is the exhibit, as well as a book.

“While all of the images reproduced in this book were made in Otoe 
County, Nebraska, they could just as well have been seen in many of our 
country’s rural areas,” Farrell said. “And the issues we see here in the
 heart of the heartland are also found throughout the country.”

For exhibit hours or other information, access <a target="_blank" href="https://wallspace-lnk.com">the website</a>. https://wallspace-lnk.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1678109404939.png" alt="Lincoln photographer Michael Farrell and former Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen have collaborated on an exhibit and book that pairs photographs with poems. (Courtesy of Lynne Ireland)" />
 <figcaption>Lincoln photographer Michael Farrell and former Nebraska State Poet Twyla Hansen have collaborated on an exhibit and book that pairs photographs with poems. (Courtesy of Lynne Ireland)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/former-state-poet-lincoln-photographer-collaborate-on-unique-rural-exhibit/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Photographer Michael 
Farrell and former State Poet Twyla Hansen have collaborated on a unique
 exhibit seeking to provide “clear-eyed views” of rural Nebraska.“Seen in Otoe County” is a collection of 61 photographs accompanied 
by 30 poems in an exhibit that opened Friday at the WallSpace-LNK 
gallery, at 1624 S. 17th St. in Lincoln.Large-format, black-and-white landscapes captured by Farrell of rural
 scenes are paired with poems penned by Hansen, who is an organic farmer
 as well as a poet.Farrell said he asked Hansen, a longtime friend, to respond in poetry
 to photos he had produced in recent years from the backroads of Otoe 
County. The result is the exhibit, as well as a book.“While all of the images reproduced in this book were made in Otoe 
County, Nebraska, they could just as well have been seen in many of our 
country’s rural areas,” Farrell said. “And the issues we see here in the
 heart of the heartland are also found throughout the country.”For exhibit hours or other information, access <a target="_blank" href="https://wallspace-lnk.com">the website</a>. https://wallspace-lnk.com

Former state poet, photographer collaborate on unique, rural exhibit

STANTON COUNTY, NE — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Honduran nationals on multiple charges who were hunting and killed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act">protected national bird.</a>

Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle just northwest of the main Wood Duck Recreation Area three miles southwest of Stanton, according to a media release.

The deputy contacted two men in a vehicle in a field. The deputies determined the men had a dead North American Bald Eagle in their possession.

Further investigation revealed that the two had shot and killed the protected national bird in that area and stated they planned on cooking and eating the bird. 

Nebraska Game and Parks was contacted and took custody of the eagle and the rifle used to kill it.

Ramiro Hernandez-Tziquin, 20 and Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, 20, both currently living in Norfolk, Nebraska were cited for unlawful possession of the eagle. Hernandez-Tziquin was also cited for having No Drivers License. More serious charges are possible as the investigation into the killing continues.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act">Click here to read </a>the Bald and Golden eagle protection act.

STANTON COUNTY, NE — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two Honduran nationals on multiple charges who were hunting and killed a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act">protected national bird.</a>Just after 4p.m. Tuesday, sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle just northwest of the main Wood Duck Recreation Area three miles southwest of Stanton, according to a media release.The deputy contacted two men in a vehicle in a field. The deputies determined the men had a dead North American Bald Eagle in their possession.Further investigation revealed that the two had shot and killed the protected national bird in that area and stated they planned on cooking and eating the bird. Nebraska Game and Parks was contacted and took custody of the eagle and the rifle used to kill it.Ramiro Hernandez-Tziquin, 20 and Domingo Zetino-Hernandez, 20, both currently living in Norfolk, Nebraska were cited for unlawful possession of the eagle. Hernandez-Tziquin was also cited for having No Drivers License. More serious charges are possible as the investigation into the killing continues.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/law/bald-and-golden-eagle-protection-act">Click here to read </a>the Bald and Golden eagle protection act.

Sheriff: 2 men killed, wanted to eat a bald eagle

SELMA, Ala. (AP) — President Joe Biden used the searing memories of&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/Civil-Rights/Selma/">Selma's “Bloody Sunday”</a>&nbsp;to recommit to a cornerstone of democracy, lionizing a seminal moment from the civil rights movement at a time when he has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-voting-rights-bill-collapses-27c888b4f9bf876520913d7036a942b0">unable to push enhanced voting protections through Congress</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-arizona-voting-voting-rights-race-and-ethnicity-1a63621d6ebaa55e5ebae6c1fd02ae09">conservative Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;has undermined a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-voting-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-laws-871be7654df041549cf74eb1a1d377ca">landmark voting law</a>.

(Click below to watch the President's in Selma on Sunday)

“Selma is a reckoning. The right to vote ... to have your vote counted is the threshold of democracy and liberty. With it anything's possible,” Biden told a crowd of several thousand people seated on one side of the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-alabama-selma-6aa9f36a49d1ba73084c2d79ae9960ad">Edmund Pettus Bridge</a>, named for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f13e0c9b63f4c4aaabd4fa1b2edfaa6">reputed Ku Klux Klan leader</a>.

"This fundamental right remains under assault. The conservative Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act over the years. Since the 2020 election, a wave of states and dozens and dozens of anti-voting laws fueled by the ‘Big Lie' and the election deniers now elected to office," he said.

As a candidate in 2020, Biden promised to pursue sweeping legislation to bolster protection of voting rights. Two years ago, his 2021 legislation, named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-voting-selma-eda3ffe8fbfcf7727270e67bba1c9566">civil right leader John Lewis</a>, the late Georgia congressman, included provisions to restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, strike down hurdles to voting and bring transparency to a campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to bankroll political causes anonymously.

It passed the then-Democratic-controlled House, but it failed to draw the 60 votes needed to advance in a Senate under control by Biden's party. With Republicans now running of the House, passage of such legislation is highly unlikely.

“We know we must get the votes in Congress,” Biden said, but there seems no viable path right now.

The visit to Selma was a chance for Biden to speak directly to the current generation of civil rights activists. Many feel let down because of the lack of progress on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/05/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-continues-to-promote-access-to-voting/">voting rights</a>&nbsp;and they are eager to see his administration keep the issue in the spotlight.

Few moments have had as lasting importance to the civil rights movement as what happened on March 7, 1965, in Selma and in the weeks that followed.

Some 600 peaceful demonstrators led by Lewis and fellow activist Hosea Williams had gathered that day, just weeks after the fatal shooting of a young Black man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-voting-selma-voting-rights-35e9b7e91a9c8b87b351c34d65e45d2f">Jimmie Lee Jackson</a>, by an Alabama trooper.

Lewis and the others were brutally beaten by Alabama troopers and sheriff’s deputies as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the start of what was supposed to be a 54-mile walk to the state Capitol in Montgomery as part of a larger effort to register Black voters in the South.

“On this bridge, blood was given to help redeem the soul of America,” Biden said.

The images of the police violence sparked outrage across the country. Days later, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. led what became known as the “Turnaround Tuesday” march, in which marchers approached a wall of police at the bridge and prayed before turning back.

President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act">Voting Rights Act of 1965</a>&nbsp;eight days after “Bloody Sunday,” calling Selma one those rare moments in American history where “&nbsp;<a href="https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-15-1965-speech-congress-voting-rights">history and fate meet at a single time.</a>&nbsp;” On March 21, King began a third march, under federal protection, that grew by thousands by the time they arrived at the state Capitol. Five months later, Johnson signed the bill into law.

This year’s commemoration came as the historic city of roughly 18,000 was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-terri-sewell-selma-civil-rights-bc7ad07193d62ecf4300d610a7d57f22">still digging out</a>&nbsp;from the aftermath of a January EF-2 tornado that destroyed or damaged thousands of properties in and around Selma. The scars of that storm were still evident Sunday. Blocks from the stage where Biden spoke, houses sat crumbled or without roofs. Orange spray paint marked buildings beyond salvage with instructions to “tear down.”

“We remain Selma strong,” Mayor James Perkins said, adding that “we will build back better.” He thanked Biden for approving a disaster declaration that helped the small city with the cost of debris cleanup and removal.

Before Biden's visit, the Rev. William Barber II, a co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, and six other activists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.breachrepairers.org/selma">wrote Biden and members of Congress</a>&nbsp;to express their frustration with the lack of progress on voting rights legislation. They urged Washington politicians visiting Selma not to sully the memories of Lewis and Williams and other civil rights activists with empty platitudes.

“We’re saying to President Biden, let’s frame this to America as a moral issue, and let’s show how it effects everybody,” Barber said in an interview.

Among those sharing the stage with Biden before the march across the bridge were Barber, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton. On the bridge crossing, marchers sang “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Overcome” and, following tradition, once they reached the point where Lewis and others were told in 1958 that they were on an unlawful march, they stopped and prayed.

Water bottles were passed out to some who had gathered to hear Biden and at least one person was taken away on a stretcher because of the upper-70s heat. Some had waited hours in the sun before relief came from shadows cast from nearby building.

Delores Gresham, 65, a retired health care worker from Birmingham, arrived four hours early, grabbing a front-row spot so her grandchildren could hear the president and see the commemoration.

“I want them to know what happened here,” she said.

In his remarks, Biden said, “Everyone should know the truth of Selma.” And the president took a veiled dig at a high-profile Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-florida-race-and-ethnicity-education-353417231de0a790c8e290479a5e52b8">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis,</a>&nbsp;when he said: "We should learn everything. The good, the bad, the truth, who we are as a nation.”

DeSantis' administration has blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate. Last year, he signed legislation that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses. More recently, his budget office called on state colleges to submit spending information on programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory.

Two years ago on the anniversary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alabama-selma-voting-rights-elections-eec9cde9f9713183b6c8d1d7123cbbae">Biden issued an executive order</a>&nbsp;directing federal agencies to expand access to voter registration, called on the heads of agencies to come up with plans to give federal employees time off to vote or volunteer as nonpartisan poll workers, and more.

But many federal agencies are lagging in meeting the voting registration provision of Biden's order, according to a report published Thursday by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

SELMA, Ala. (AP) — President Joe Biden used the searing memories of&nbsp;<a href="https://history.house.gov/Exhibitions-and-Publications/Civil-Rights/Selma/">Selma's “Bloody Sunday”</a>&nbsp;to recommit to a cornerstone of democracy, lionizing a seminal moment from the civil rights movement at a time when he has been&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-voting-rights-bill-collapses-27c888b4f9bf876520913d7036a942b0">unable to push enhanced voting protections through Congress</a>&nbsp;and a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-supreme-court-arizona-voting-voting-rights-race-and-ethnicity-1a63621d6ebaa55e5ebae6c1fd02ae09">conservative Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;has undermined a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/courts-voting-race-and-ethnicity-racial-injustice-laws-871be7654df041549cf74eb1a1d377ca">landmark voting law</a>.(Click below to watch the President's in Selma on Sunday)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F726705922369707%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=804" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>“Selma is a reckoning. The right to vote ... to have your vote counted is the threshold of democracy and liberty. With it anything's possible,” Biden told a crowd of several thousand people seated on one side of the historic&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-alabama-selma-6aa9f36a49d1ba73084c2d79ae9960ad">Edmund Pettus Bridge</a>, named for a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/5f13e0c9b63f4c4aaabd4fa1b2edfaa6">reputed Ku Klux Klan leader</a>."This fundamental right remains under assault. The conservative Supreme Court has gutted the Voting Rights Act over the years. Since the 2020 election, a wave of states and dozens and dozens of anti-voting laws fueled by the ‘Big Lie' and the election deniers now elected to office," he said.As a candidate in 2020, Biden promised to pursue sweeping legislation to bolster protection of voting rights. Two years ago, his 2021 legislation, named after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ga-state-wire-us-news-ap-top-news-voting-selma-eda3ffe8fbfcf7727270e67bba1c9566">civil right leader John Lewis</a>, the late Georgia congressman, included provisions to restrict partisan gerrymandering of congressional districts, strike down hurdles to voting and bring transparency to a campaign finance system that allows wealthy donors to bankroll political causes anonymously.It passed the then-Democratic-controlled House, but it failed to draw the 60 votes needed to advance in a Senate under control by Biden's party. With Republicans now running of the House, passage of such legislation is highly unlikely.“We know we must get the votes in Congress,” Biden said, but there seems no viable path right now.The visit to Selma was a chance for Biden to speak directly to the current generation of civil rights activists. Many feel let down because of the lack of progress on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/05/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-continues-to-promote-access-to-voting/">voting rights</a>&nbsp;and they are eager to see his administration keep the issue in the spotlight.Few moments have had as lasting importance to the civil rights movement as what happened on March 7, 1965, in Selma and in the weeks that followed.Some 600 peaceful demonstrators led by Lewis and fellow activist Hosea Williams had gathered that day, just weeks after the fatal shooting of a young Black man,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-voting-selma-voting-rights-35e9b7e91a9c8b87b351c34d65e45d2f">Jimmie Lee Jackson</a>, by an Alabama trooper.Lewis and the others were brutally beaten by Alabama troopers and sheriff’s deputies as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge at the start of what was supposed to be a 54-mile walk to the state Capitol in Montgomery as part of a larger effort to register Black voters in the South.“On this bridge, blood was given to help redeem the soul of America,” Biden said.The images of the police violence sparked outrage across the country. Days later, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. led what became known as the “Turnaround Tuesday” march, in which marchers approached a wall of police at the bridge and prayed before turning back.President Lyndon B. Johnson introduced the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/voting-rights-act">Voting Rights Act of 1965</a>&nbsp;eight days after “Bloody Sunday,” calling Selma one those rare moments in American history where “&nbsp;<a href="https://millercenter.org/the-presidency/presidential-speeches/march-15-1965-speech-congress-voting-rights">history and fate meet at a single time.</a>&nbsp;” On March 21, King began a third march, under federal protection, that grew by thousands by the time they arrived at the state Capitol. Five months later, Johnson signed the bill into law.This year’s commemoration came as the historic city of roughly 18,000 was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornadoes-terri-sewell-selma-civil-rights-bc7ad07193d62ecf4300d610a7d57f22">still digging out</a>&nbsp;from the aftermath of a January EF-2 tornado that destroyed or damaged thousands of properties in and around Selma. The scars of that storm were still evident Sunday. Blocks from the stage where Biden spoke, houses sat crumbled or without roofs. Orange spray paint marked buildings beyond salvage with instructions to “tear down.”“We remain Selma strong,” Mayor James Perkins said, adding that “we will build back better.” He thanked Biden for approving a disaster declaration that helped the small city with the cost of debris cleanup and removal.Before Biden's visit, the Rev. William Barber II, a co-chair of Poor People’s Campaign, and six other activists&nbsp;<a href="https://www.breachrepairers.org/selma">wrote Biden and members of Congress</a>&nbsp;to express their frustration with the lack of progress on voting rights legislation. They urged Washington politicians visiting Selma not to sully the memories of Lewis and Williams and other civil rights activists with empty platitudes.“We’re saying to President Biden, let’s frame this to America as a moral issue, and let’s show how it effects everybody,” Barber said in an interview.Among those sharing the stage with Biden before the march across the bridge were Barber, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King III and the Rev. Al Sharpton. On the bridge crossing, marchers sang “This Little Light of Mine” and “We Shall Overcome” and, following tradition, once they reached the point where Lewis and others were told in 1958 that they were on an unlawful march, they stopped and prayed.Water bottles were passed out to some who had gathered to hear Biden and at least one person was taken away on a stretcher because of the upper-70s heat. Some had waited hours in the sun before relief came from shadows cast from nearby building.Delores Gresham, 65, a retired health care worker from Birmingham, arrived four hours early, grabbing a front-row spot so her grandchildren could hear the president and see the commemoration.“I want them to know what happened here,” she said.In his remarks, Biden said, “Everyone should know the truth of Selma.” And the president took a veiled dig at a high-profile Republican,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ron-desantis-florida-race-and-ethnicity-education-353417231de0a790c8e290479a5e52b8">Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis,</a>&nbsp;when he said: "We should learn everything. The good, the bad, the truth, who we are as a nation.”DeSantis' administration has blocked a new Advanced Placement course on African American studies from being taught in high schools, saying it violates state law and is historically inaccurate. Last year, he signed legislation that restricts certain race-based conversations and analysis in schools and businesses. More recently, his budget office called on state colleges to submit spending information on programs related to diversity, equity and inclusion and critical race theory.Two years ago on the anniversary,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-alabama-selma-voting-rights-elections-eec9cde9f9713183b6c8d1d7123cbbae">Biden issued an executive order</a>&nbsp;directing federal agencies to expand access to voter registration, called on the heads of agencies to come up with plans to give federal employees time off to vote or volunteer as nonpartisan poll workers, and more.But many federal agencies are lagging in meeting the voting registration provision of Biden's order, according to a report published Thursday by the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.

🎥Biden says right to vote remains under assault

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the deaths of two people in a house fire in Omaha.

Crews were called to the fire just before 3 a.m. Saturday, the Omaha Fire Department said in a statement. Smoke and flames were visible from a block away.

The blaze was extinguished in about 30 minutes despite difficulties caused by the collapse of stairs and partial collapse of the main floor, the statement said. Two people were found dead inside. Their names were not immediately released. No other injuries were reported.

The two-story house was deemed a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

Battalion Chief Matt Carmichael told KETV-TV that firefighters initially believed the structure was vacant and focused on the outside of the home before going in. Once inside, they found two people they believed were homeless.

By Associated PressOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the deaths of two people in a house fire in Omaha.Crews were called to the fire just before 3 a.m. Saturday, the Omaha Fire Department said in a statement. Smoke and flames were visible from a block away.The blaze was extinguished in about 30 minutes despite difficulties caused by the collapse of stairs and partial collapse of the main floor, the statement said. Two people were found dead inside. Their names were not immediately released. No other injuries were reported.The two-story house was deemed a total loss. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.Battalion Chief Matt Carmichael told KETV-TV that firefighters initially believed the structure was vacant and focused on the outside of the home before going in. Once inside, they found two people they believed were homeless.

Authorities investigate deaths of 2 in Omaha house fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government agency responsible for tracking down contaminated peanut butter and defective pacemakers is taking on a new health hazard: online misinformation.

It’s an unlikely role for the Food and Drug Administration, a sprawling, century-old bureaucracy that for decades directed most its communications toward doctors and corporations.

But FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf has spent the last year warning that growing “distortions and half-truths” surrounding vaccines and other medical products are now “a leading cause of death in America.”

“Almost no one should be dying of COVID in the U.S. today,” Califf told The Associated Press, noting the government's distribution of free vaccines and antiviral medications. “People who are denying themselves that opportunity are dying because they're misinformed.”

Califf, who first led the agency under President Barack Obama, said the FDA could once rely on a few communication channels to reach Americans.

“We’re now in a 24/7 sea of information without a user guide for people out there in society," Califf said. "So this requires us to change the way we communicate.”

The FDA's answer? Short&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6G9rnQmEAk">YouTube videos</a>, long&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DrCaliff_FDA/status/1610727792450076679">Twitter threads</a>&nbsp;and other online&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control">postings</a>&nbsp;debunking medical misinformation, including bogus COVID-19 remedies like ivermectin, the anti-parasite drug intended for farm animals. “Hold your horses y'all. Ivermectin may be trending, but it still isn't authorized or approved to treat COVID-19” the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1429050070243192839">FDA told</a><a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1518942739639017472"></a>&nbsp;its 500,000 Twitter followers in April.

On Instagram, FDA memes referencing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYQaIHMsSF/">Scooby-Doo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj0cqUhMTPk/">SpongeBob</a>&nbsp;urge Americans to get boosted and ignore misinformation, alongside staid agency postings about the arrival of National Handwashing Awareness Week.

The AP asked more than a half-dozen health communication experts about the FDA's fledgling effort. They said it mostly reflects the latest science on combating misinformation, but they also questioned whether it’s reaching enough people to have an impact — and whether separate FDA controversies are undercutting the agency's credibility.

“The question I start with is, ‘Are you a trusted messenger or not?'” said Dr. Seema Yasmin, a Stanford University professor who studies medical misinformation and trains health officials in responding to it. “In the context of FDA, we can highlight multiple incidents which have damaged the credibility of the agency and deepened distrust of its scientific decisions."

In the last two years the FDA has come under fire for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-us-food-and-drug-administration-medication-dementia-8a4dea09ba183d7f047ee5eb10224289">controversial approval</a>&nbsp;of an unproven Alzheimer’s drug as well as its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-robert-califf-cce94aeeb3b53af5617d32086df01410">delayed response</a>&nbsp;to a contaminated baby formula plant, which contributed to a national supply shortage.

Meanwhile, the agency’s approach to booster vaccinations has been criticized by some of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-coronavirus-pandemic-science--38544e89b9dba06d49a800189c3ed42d">top vaccine scientists</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-panel-rejects-widespread-pfizer-booster-shots-1cd1cf6a5c5c02b63f8a7324807a59f1">advisers</a>.

“It’s not fair, but it doesn’t take too many negative stories to unravel the public’s trust,” said Georgetown University’s Leticia Bode, who studies political communication and misinformation.

About a quarter of Americans said they have “a lot” of trust in the FDA's handling of COVID-19, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ASAPH_Knowledge_Monitor_Fall_2022_web.pdf">survey</a>&nbsp;conducted last year by University of Pennsylvania researchers, while less than half said they have “some trust.”

"The FDA's word is still one of the most highly regarded pieces of information people want to see,” said Califf, who was confirmed to his second stint leading the FDA last February.

As commissioner he is trying to tackle a host of issues, including restructuring the agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-food-and-drug-administration-robert-califf-health-nutrition-963a3e590c1055f8be3132f237ad5108">food safety program</a>&nbsp;and more aggressively deploying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-ffdc3c1ce4a9622a064a672ce8aee543">FDA scientists</a>&nbsp;to explain vaccine decisions in the media.

The array of challenges before the FDA raises questions about the new focus on misinformation. And Califf acknowledges the limits of what his agency can accomplish.

“Anyone who thinks the government’s going to solve this problem alone is deluding themselves," he said. “We need a vast network of knowledgeable people who devote part of their day to combating misinformation.”

Georgetown's Bode said the agency is “moving in the right direction,” on misinformation, particularly its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ZLdnLAtLM&amp;list=PLey4Qe-UxcxZlA84cUxA7RMdXnomNp5SO">“Just a Minute”</a>&nbsp;series of factchecking videos, which feature FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks succinctly addressing a single COVID-19 myth or topic.

“FDA’s YouTube videos have a minuscule audience,” said&nbsp;Brendan Nyhan, who studies medical misinformation at Dartmouth College. The people watching FDA videos ”are not the people we typically think about when we think about misinformation.”

Research by Nyhan and his colleagues suggests that fact-checking COVID-19 myths briefly dispels false beliefs, but the effects are “ephemeral.” Nyhan and other researchers noted the most trusted medical information source for most Americans is their doctor, not the government.

Even if the audience for FDA’s work is small, experts in online analytics say it may be having a bigger impact.

An FDA page dubbed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control">“Rumor Control”</a>&nbsp;debunks a long list of false claims about vaccines, such as that they contain pesticides. A Google search for “vaccines” and “pesticides” brings up the FDA’s response as a top result, because the search engine prioritizes credible websites.

“Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University.

Perhaps the most promising approach to fighting misinformation is also the toughest to execute: introduce people to emerging misinformation and explain why it’s false before they encounter it elsewhere.

That technique, called “pre-bunking," presents challenges for large government agencies.

“Is the FDA nimble enough to have a detection system for misinformation and then quickly put out pre-bunking information within hours or days?” Lazer asked.

Califf said the FDA tracks new misinformation trends online and quickly decides whether — and when — to intervene.

“Sometimes calling attention to an issue can make it worse,” he notes.

Other communication challenges are baked into how the FDA operates. For instance, the agency consults an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-57a21c137541c97a6eafed41b2497971">independent panel of vaccine specialists</a>&nbsp;on major decisions about COVID-19 shots, considered a key step in fostering trust in the process.

But some of those&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2215780">experts have disagreed</a>&nbsp;on who should receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters or how strong the evidence is for their use, particularly among younger people.

The FDA then largely relies on news media to translate those debates and its final decisions, which are often laden with scientific jargon.

The result has been “utter confusion,” about the latest round of COVID-19 boosters, says Lawrence Gostin, a public health specialist at Georgetown.

“If you’re trying to counteract misinformation on social media your first job is to clarify, simplify and explain things in an understandable way to the lay public,” said Gostin. “I don’t think anyone could say that FDA has done a good job with that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653259399279.png" alt="In May, the Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to double-check their jars of Jif peanut butter.&nbsp;Jif’s creamy, crunchy, natural and reduced fat peanut butters had been linked to a salmonella outbreak across 12 states&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>In May, the Food and Drug Administration advised consumers to double-check their jars of Jif peanut butter.&nbsp;Jif’s creamy, crunchy, natural and reduced fat peanut butters had been linked to a salmonella outbreak across 12 states&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The government agency responsible for tracking down contaminated peanut butter and defective pacemakers is taking on a new health hazard: online misinformation.It’s an unlikely role for the Food and Drug Administration, a sprawling, century-old bureaucracy that for decades directed most its communications toward doctors and corporations.But FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf has spent the last year warning that growing “distortions and half-truths” surrounding vaccines and other medical products are now “a leading cause of death in America.”“Almost no one should be dying of COVID in the U.S. today,” Califf told The Associated Press, noting the government's distribution of free vaccines and antiviral medications. “People who are denying themselves that opportunity are dying because they're misinformed.”Califf, who first led the agency under President Barack Obama, said the FDA could once rely on a few communication channels to reach Americans.“We’re now in a 24/7 sea of information without a user guide for people out there in society," Califf said. "So this requires us to change the way we communicate.”The FDA's answer? Short&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6G9rnQmEAk">YouTube videos</a>, long&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DrCaliff_FDA/status/1610727792450076679">Twitter threads</a>&nbsp;and other online&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control">postings</a>&nbsp;debunking medical misinformation, including bogus COVID-19 remedies like ivermectin, the anti-parasite drug intended for farm animals. “Hold your horses y'all. Ivermectin may be trending, but it still isn't authorized or approved to treat COVID-19” the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1429050070243192839">FDA told</a><a href="https://twitter.com/US_FDA/status/1518942739639017472"></a>&nbsp;its 500,000 Twitter followers in April.On Instagram, FDA memes referencing&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CkYQaIHMsSF/">Scooby-Doo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj0cqUhMTPk/">SpongeBob</a>&nbsp;urge Americans to get boosted and ignore misinformation, alongside staid agency postings about the arrival of National Handwashing Awareness Week.The AP asked more than a half-dozen health communication experts about the FDA's fledgling effort. They said it mostly reflects the latest science on combating misinformation, but they also questioned whether it’s reaching enough people to have an impact — and whether separate FDA controversies are undercutting the agency's credibility.“The question I start with is, ‘Are you a trusted messenger or not?'” said Dr. Seema Yasmin, a Stanford University professor who studies medical misinformation and trains health officials in responding to it. “In the context of FDA, we can highlight multiple incidents which have damaged the credibility of the agency and deepened distrust of its scientific decisions."In the last two years the FDA has come under fire for its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-us-food-and-drug-administration-medication-dementia-8a4dea09ba183d7f047ee5eb10224289">controversial approval</a>&nbsp;of an unproven Alzheimer’s drug as well as its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-robert-califf-cce94aeeb3b53af5617d32086df01410">delayed response</a>&nbsp;to a contaminated baby formula plant, which contributed to a national supply shortage.Meanwhile, the agency’s approach to booster vaccinations has been criticized by some of its&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-health-coronavirus-pandemic-science--38544e89b9dba06d49a800189c3ed42d">top vaccine scientists</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fda-panel-rejects-widespread-pfizer-booster-shots-1cd1cf6a5c5c02b63f8a7324807a59f1">advisers</a>.“It’s not fair, but it doesn’t take too many negative stories to unravel the public’s trust,” said Georgetown University’s Leticia Bode, who studies political communication and misinformation.About a quarter of Americans said they have “a lot” of trust in the FDA's handling of COVID-19, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://cdn.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ASAPH_Knowledge_Monitor_Fall_2022_web.pdf">survey</a>&nbsp;conducted last year by University of Pennsylvania researchers, while less than half said they have “some trust.”"The FDA's word is still one of the most highly regarded pieces of information people want to see,” said Califf, who was confirmed to his second stint leading the FDA last February.As commissioner he is trying to tackle a host of issues, including restructuring the agency’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-food-and-drug-administration-robert-califf-health-nutrition-963a3e590c1055f8be3132f237ad5108">food safety program</a>&nbsp;and more aggressively deploying&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-science-health-coronavirus-pandemic-coronavirus-vaccine-ffdc3c1ce4a9622a064a672ce8aee543">FDA scientists</a>&nbsp;to explain vaccine decisions in the media.The array of challenges before the FDA raises questions about the new focus on misinformation. And Califf acknowledges the limits of what his agency can accomplish.“Anyone who thinks the government’s going to solve this problem alone is deluding themselves," he said. “We need a vast network of knowledgeable people who devote part of their day to combating misinformation.”Georgetown's Bode said the agency is “moving in the right direction,” on misinformation, particularly its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8ZLdnLAtLM&amp;list=PLey4Qe-UxcxZlA84cUxA7RMdXnomNp5SO">“Just a Minute”</a>&nbsp;series of factchecking videos, which feature FDA’s vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks succinctly addressing a single COVID-19 myth or topic.But how many people are seeing them?“FDA’s YouTube videos have a minuscule audience,” said&nbsp;Brendan Nyhan, who studies medical misinformation at Dartmouth College. The people watching FDA videos ”are not the people we typically think about when we think about misinformation.”Research by Nyhan and his colleagues suggests that fact-checking COVID-19 myths briefly dispels false beliefs, but the effects are “ephemeral.” Nyhan and other researchers noted the most trusted medical information source for most Americans is their doctor, not the government.Even if the audience for FDA’s work is small, experts in online analytics say it may be having a bigger impact.An FDA page dubbed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/news-events/rumor-control">“Rumor Control”</a>&nbsp;debunks a long list of false claims about vaccines, such as that they contain pesticides. A Google search for “vaccines” and “pesticides” brings up the FDA’s response as a top result, because the search engine prioritizes credible websites.“Because the FDA puts that information on its website, it will actually crowd out the misinformation from the top 10 or 20 Google results,” said David Lazer, a political and computer scientist at Northeastern University.Perhaps the most promising approach to fighting misinformation is also the toughest to execute: introduce people to emerging misinformation and explain why it’s false before they encounter it elsewhere.That technique, called “pre-bunking," presents challenges for large government agencies.“Is the FDA nimble enough to have a detection system for misinformation and then quickly put out pre-bunking information within hours or days?” Lazer asked.Califf said the FDA tracks new misinformation trends online and quickly decides whether — and when — to intervene.“Sometimes calling attention to an issue can make it worse,” he notes.Other communication challenges are baked into how the FDA operates. For instance, the agency consults an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-health-57a21c137541c97a6eafed41b2497971">independent panel of vaccine specialists</a>&nbsp;on major decisions about COVID-19 shots, considered a key step in fostering trust in the process.But some of those&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2215780">experts have disagreed</a>&nbsp;on who should receive COVID-19 vaccine boosters or how strong the evidence is for their use, particularly among younger people.The FDA then largely relies on news media to translate those debates and its final decisions, which are often laden with scientific jargon.The result has been “utter confusion,” about the latest round of COVID-19 boosters, says Lawrence Gostin, a public health specialist at Georgetown.“If you’re trying to counteract misinformation on social media your first job is to clarify, simplify and explain things in an understandable way to the lay public,” said Gostin. “I don’t think anyone could say that FDA has done a good job with that.”___

FDA’s own reputation could be restraining its misinfo fight

United
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Austin Galvan, 41, of 
Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced last week in federal court in Omaha for felon
 in possession of ammunition.&nbsp; United States
 District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Galvan to 84 months’ 
imprisonment.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; After his 
release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised 
release.

On November 7, 2021, Ralston police responded to a 
call for a domestic assault. Galvan was eventually arrested and 
transported to the Douglas County Jail along with two bags he had in his
 possession. Inside one of the bags, corrections
 staff found the lower receiver to an AR-15 style rifle, a gun magazine,
 and two rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Galvan is a convicted felon 
prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law.


This case is part of Project Guardian, the 
Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and 
enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the 
fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s
 past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination 
of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and 
prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when
 a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by
 the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to 
include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is 
denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures
 that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the 
greatest threat to our communities. 

The United States Attorney’s Office 
has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project 
Guardian partners: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
 and Explosives and the Ralston Police Department. For more information 
about Project Guardian, please see
<a href="http://www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian</a>.

U.S. Attorney's OfficeUnited
 States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Austin Galvan, 41, of 
Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced last week in federal court in Omaha for felon
 in possession of ammunition.&nbsp; United States
 District Judge Brian C. Buescher sentenced Galvan to 84 months’ 
imprisonment.&nbsp; There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; After his 
release from prison, he will begin a three-year term of supervised 
release.On November 7, 2021, Ralston police responded to a 
call for a domestic assault. Galvan was eventually arrested and 
transported to the Douglas County Jail along with two bags he had in his
 possession. Inside one of the bags, corrections
 staff found the lower receiver to an AR-15 style rifle, a gun magazine,
 and two rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Galvan is a convicted felon 
prohibited from possessing ammunition under federal law.
This case is part of Project Guardian, the 
Department of Justice’s signature initiative to reduce gun violence and 
enforce federal firearms laws. Initiated by the Attorney General in the 
fall of 2019, Project Guardian draws upon the Department’s
 past successful programs to reduce gun violence; enhances coordination 
of federal, state, local, and tribal authorities in investigating and 
prosecuting gun crimes; improves information-sharing by the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives when
 a prohibited individual attempts to purchase a firearm and is denied by
 the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), to 
include taking appropriate actions when a prospective purchaser is 
denied by the NICS for mental health reasons; and ensures
 that federal resources are directed at the criminals posing the 
greatest threat to our communities. The United States Attorney’s Office 
has prosecuted this case with support from the following Project 
Guardian partners: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
 and Explosives and the Ralston Police Department. For more information 
about Project Guardian, please see
<a href="http://www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian" target="_blank">www.justice.gov/archives/ag/about-project-guardian</a>.

Neb. man sentenced on federal ammunition charges

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cast himself Saturday as the only Republican candidate who can build on his White House legacy but shied away from directly critiquing his potential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump, giving the headlining address at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, told a cheering crowd that he was engaged in his “final battle” as he tries to return to the White House.

“We are going to finish what we started,” he said. “We’re going to complete the mission. We’re going to see this battle through to ultimate victory.”

Though DeSantis, seen as Trump's biggest potential rival, is frequently a subject of name-calling and other attacks in Trump's social media posts and in interviews, he wasn't mentioned directly in Trump's address before conservative activists, who earlier in the day applauded when an old video clip of the Florida governor was shown in a montage.

While CPAC was once a must-stop for candidates mulling Republican presidential runs, DeSantis and other major likely contenders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bolsonaro-pence-cpac-desantis-youngkin-e237764ad60fbe07e0fe512f48c3c616">skipped this year's gathering</a>&nbsp;amid scandal and as the group has increasingly become aligned with Trump.

The former president's enduring popularity with this segment of voters was on display throughout the conference this week. Some attendees wore Trump-themed outfits, with “MAGA” hats and sequined jackets.

Members of his family and his presidential administration were swarmed like celebrities in the hallways and dominated the list of speakers. The handful of other potential and declared candidates not named Trump who spoke received only tepid applause.

And the annual CPAC straw poll, an unscientific survey of attendees, found Trump the top choice to be the party's nominee, with 62% support, trailed by DeSantis at 20% and businessman Perry Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">who announced his long shot bid at the conference</a>, with 5%.

Nearly all — 95% of respondents — said they approved of Trump's performance as president.

Ahead of his speech, Trump told reporters that he would continue his third presidential campaign even if indicted. He is under investigation by prosecutors probing his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-york-city-only-on-ap-donald-trump-georgia-266e28c4e47e54731b233e0f770f6729">in Georgia and by the U.S. Justice Department,</a>&nbsp;as well as his handling of classified documents, among other issues.

He condemned all the probes as politically motivated and vowed that criminal charges wouldn’t deter him.

“Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving,” he told reporters, adding that “probably, it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country.”

“This is an audience that supports President Trump,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, who endorsed Trump days before he officially launched his 2024 campaign.

The only member of House leadership to attend the conference, Stefanik told The Associated Press that Trump continued to be the party’s leader.

“President Trump is in a very strong position and I think he will be the Republican nominee,” she said.

While Trump did not launch broadsides against his potential challengers for the White House, many of whom were pitching themselves to conservative donors near his Florida home this week, he did repeatedly criticize the old guard of the Republican Party, which is eager to move past him.

“We had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neo-cons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools. But we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush,” he said.

He took only a veiled jab at DeSantis, calling out those who have proposed raising the age for Social Security or privatizing Medicare — positions DeSantis has expressed support for in the past, but has since abandoned. “We’re not going to mess with Social Security as Republicans,” DeSantis recently said.

Trump told the crowd, “If that’s their original thought, that’s what they always come back to.”

Trump threaded his speech with grievances related to his term in office and outlined his agenda for a second, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes, which drew some of the strongest applause from the room and was a recurrent theme in speeches at the four-day conference.

While many top Republicans steered clear of the conference, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who declared her candidacy last month, both spoke Friday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cpac-trump-pompeo-haley-2024-election-d12b8dba671169aebcb479c303cf3627">made shrouded critiques of Trump</a>. Their refusal to call him out by name underscored the risks faced by challengers looking to offer an alternative in a party in which Trump remains the dominant force.

“There is no one in that field I want as my president other than Donald J. Trump,” said Waverly Woods, a Republican activist and marketer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who said she likes DeSantis but that Trump has first claim on the hearts of many at the conference.

That includes Woods’ sometimes partner in local GOP races, Kim Shourds, whose car bears a “TRUMP WON” license plate.

DeSantis? She likes him, she said, but not enough. She wants the governor to sit down “and let my man come in and run this country,” Shourds said.

E. Payne Kilbourn, a retired Navy submarine captain from Neavitt, Maryland, who now writes and advocates for carbon dioxide, said he was “very, very” happy with Trump’s presidency, but now thinks it’s time for the party to move on.

“I think Donald Trump’s just too toxic for most of the country,” said Kilbourn, 69, an independent who votes for Republicans in general elections and wishes Trump would “bow out and just be the guy behind the scenes.”

Strategically, he sees DeSantis as better positioned to eventually win the White House.

“I think he would have a better chance of getting elected,” he said.

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Former President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;cast himself Saturday as the only Republican candidate who can build on his White House legacy but shied away from directly critiquing his potential rivals, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>: &quot;They know that we can defeat them. They know that we will defeat them. But they&#39;re not coming after me. They&#39;re coming after you. And I&#39;m just standing in their way. <a href="https://t.co/2zGkokajh4">pic.twitter.com/2zGkokajh4</a>&mdash; CPAC (@CPAC) <a href="https://twitter.com/CPAC/status/1632155040000475139?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump, giving the headlining address at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, told a cheering crowd that he was engaged in his “final battle” as he tries to return to the White House.“We are going to finish what we started,” he said. “We’re going to complete the mission. We’re going to see this battle through to ultimate victory.”Though DeSantis, seen as Trump's biggest potential rival, is frequently a subject of name-calling and other attacks in Trump's social media posts and in interviews, he wasn't mentioned directly in Trump's address before conservative activists, who earlier in the day applauded when an old video clip of the Florida governor was shown in a montage.While CPAC was once a must-stop for candidates mulling Republican presidential runs, DeSantis and other major likely contenders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-bolsonaro-pence-cpac-desantis-youngkin-e237764ad60fbe07e0fe512f48c3c616">skipped this year's gathering</a>&nbsp;amid scandal and as the group has increasingly become aligned with Trump.The former president's enduring popularity with this segment of voters was on display throughout the conference this week. Some attendees wore Trump-themed outfits, with “MAGA” hats and sequined jackets.Members of his family and his presidential administration were swarmed like celebrities in the hallways and dominated the list of speakers. The handful of other potential and declared candidates not named Trump who spoke received only tepid applause.And the annual CPAC straw poll, an unscientific survey of attendees, found Trump the top choice to be the party's nominee, with 62% support, trailed by DeSantis at 20% and businessman Perry Johnson,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/perry-johnson-2024-presidential-campaign-b734b469aa0b56a94e19ef0125cf5997">who announced his long shot bid at the conference</a>, with 5%.Nearly all — 95% of respondents — said they approved of Trump's performance as president.Ahead of his speech, Trump told reporters that he would continue his third presidential campaign even if indicted. He is under investigation by prosecutors probing his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/politics-new-york-city-only-on-ap-donald-trump-georgia-266e28c4e47e54731b233e0f770f6729">in Georgia and by the U.S. Justice Department,</a>&nbsp;as well as his handling of classified documents, among other issues.He condemned all the probes as politically motivated and vowed that criminal charges wouldn’t deter him.“Oh, absolutely, I won’t even think about leaving,” he told reporters, adding that “probably, it’ll enhance my numbers, but it’s a very bad thing for America. It’s very bad for the country.”“This is an audience that supports President Trump,” said Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., the No. 3 House Republican, who endorsed Trump days before he officially launched his 2024 campaign.The only member of House leadership to attend the conference, Stefanik told The Associated Press that Trump continued to be the party’s leader.“President Trump is in a very strong position and I think he will be the Republican nominee,” she said.While Trump did not launch broadsides against his potential challengers for the White House, many of whom were pitching themselves to conservative donors near his Florida home this week, he did repeatedly criticize the old guard of the Republican Party, which is eager to move past him.“We had a Republican Party that was ruled by freaks, neo-cons, globalists, open borders zealots and fools. But we are never going back to the party of Paul Ryan, Karl Rove and Jeb Bush,” he said.He took only a veiled jab at DeSantis, calling out those who have proposed raising the age for Social Security or privatizing Medicare — positions DeSantis has expressed support for in the past, but has since abandoned. “We’re not going to mess with Social Security as Republicans,” DeSantis recently said.Trump told the crowd, “If that’s their original thought, that’s what they always come back to.”Trump threaded his speech with grievances related to his term in office and outlined his agenda for a second, including restrictions on gender-affirming care and transgender athletes, which drew some of the strongest applause from the room and was a recurrent theme in speeches at the four-day conference.While many top Republicans steered clear of the conference, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a potential candidate, and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who declared her candidacy last month, both spoke Friday and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cpac-trump-pompeo-haley-2024-election-d12b8dba671169aebcb479c303cf3627">made shrouded critiques of Trump</a>. Their refusal to call him out by name underscored the risks faced by challengers looking to offer an alternative in a party in which Trump remains the dominant force.“There is no one in that field I want as my president other than Donald J. Trump,” said Waverly Woods, a Republican activist and marketer from Virginia Beach, Virginia, who said she likes DeSantis but that Trump has first claim on the hearts of many at the conference.That includes Woods’ sometimes partner in local GOP races, Kim Shourds, whose car bears a “TRUMP WON” license plate.DeSantis? She likes him, she said, but not enough. She wants the governor to sit down “and let my man come in and run this country,” Shourds said.But not everyone at CPAC was on board.E. Payne Kilbourn, a retired Navy submarine captain from Neavitt, Maryland, who now writes and advocates for carbon dioxide, said he was “very, very” happy with Trump’s presidency, but now thinks it’s time for the party to move on.“I think Donald Trump’s just too toxic for most of the country,” said Kilbourn, 69, an independent who votes for Republicans in general elections and wishes Trump would “bow out and just be the guy behind the scenes.”Strategically, he sees DeSantis as better positioned to eventually win the White House.“I think he would have a better chance of getting elected,” he said.

Trump pitches a sequel, but shies away from attacking rivals

NEW YORK (AP) — The patients' eyes were painfully inflamed. They could sense light but could see almost nothing else. A doctor called one case the worst eye infection he’d ever seen.

It was the beginning of a national outbreak caused by an extremely worrisome bacteria — one that some say heralds an era in which antibiotics no longer work and seemingly routine infections get horribly out of hand.

At last count, 58 Americans in 13 states have been infected, including at least one who died and at least five who suffered permanent vision loss. All have been linked to tainted eyedrops, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recall</a>.

Experts marvel at how disease detectives pieced together the case: Patients were scattered across the country. The illnesses occurred over the span of months. The infections were found in different parts of the body — in the blood of some patients, in the lungs of others.

But scientists also shudder, because they have long worried common bacteria will evolve so that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-infectious-diseases-antibiotics-fungi-2c661fd0c6ed899bedc51238d390603a">antibiotics no longer work against them</a>.

"This really shows us that it's not something theoretical and in the future. It's here,” said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

This account is drawn from phone and email interviews with U.S. disease investigators, health officials in three states and regulators in the U.S. and India.

The investigation started in May in Los Angeles County, California. A patient who'd recently been to an ophthalmologist came in with a bad eye infection. A month later, local health officials got a second report. Another bad eye infection, same eye doctor.

Two more cases were reported in the county before the summer was over. The patients’ eyes were inflamed with heavy yellow pus that obscured most of the pupil. Among the four, two had complete vision loss in the affected eye.

The hospital that reported the first infection determined it was caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The institution, which was equipped to do advanced genetic testing, quickly realized the bacteria had a rare gene that protected it from the effects of commonly used antibiotics.

It was an early break for investigators, said Kelsey OYong, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

OYong and her colleagues knew they were dealing with a scary germ, and they notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pseudomonas infections are not new. Drug-resistant strains of the bacteria cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalized patients in the U.S. and more than 2,500 deaths, the CDC said. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment, and is particularly dangerous to fragile patients who have catheters or are on breathing machines.

But the California infections were in patients' eyes, not more common spots like the blood and lungs. Also, the lab analysis determined the infections were caused by a Pseudomonas germ that could resist just about every antibiotic.

The only thing that worked was a newer antibiotic called cefiderocol, administered by IV.

Over the summer, Pseudomonas outbreaks were seen at long-term care facilities in two other states.

In Connecticut, the first case was in June. Eventually, the bacteria was found in 25 patients from five nursing homes in different parts of the state, said Christopher Boyle, a spokesperson for Connecticut’s health department.

In Davis County, Utah, north of Salt Lake City, the first of six cases was reported to the CDC in August. While the patients had the bacteria, none actually got sick, said Sarah Willardson of the Davis County Health Department.

L.A. County health investigators thought the cases there might be due to some kind of equipment contamination at the eye doctor’s office.

But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before.

“That made us start thinking that this was some kind of a product,” said Maroya Walters, the CDC official supervising the investigation.

As the year went on, other reports of drug-resistant Pseudomonas came in, including a Washington man who died with a bloodstream infection.

Given the initial cluster at the California ophthalmologist’s office, investigators suspected an eye care product was the culprit, though that hypothesis was complicated by the fact that the infections at the long-term care facilities were mainly found in the lungs.

But it wasn’t impossible. Tear ducts drain into the nasal cavity, which leads to the lungs and could provide a path to deep inside the body.

In early November, investigators determined most of the infected Connecticut patients had been given artificial tears, though it wasn't clear who had been given which brand.

Then, on Nov. 9, a Florida hospital contacted the CDC to report bad eye infections connected to an outpatient clinic. A check of artificial tears brands used in Connecticut, Florida and Utah pointed to one common product: EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product marketed in the U.S. by New Jersey-based EzriCare LLC and made in India by Global Pharma Healthcare.

The Pseudomonas bacteria is “pretty much everywhere” in India and the drug-resistant germ is common in many hospitals, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies microbes in the Christian Medical College in the same state as Global Pharma's factory.

In January, genetic sequencing confirmed the Florida cases were caused by the same bacteria strain as the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah. On Jan. 20, the CDC urged doctors to avoid recommending the EzriCare product.

There was no recall or widespread public notice, however. Investigators had strong circumstantial evidence pointing toward the EzriCare drops, but didn’t get more conclusive proof until more than a week later after testing found the bacteria in seven open bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears in Connecticut and New Jersey.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1675357768410.png" alt="photo Ezri care" />
 <figcaption>photo Ezri care</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical WriterNEW YORK (AP) — The patients' eyes were painfully inflamed. They could sense light but could see almost nothing else. A doctor called one case the worst eye infection he’d ever seen.It was the beginning of a national outbreak caused by an extremely worrisome bacteria — one that some say heralds an era in which antibiotics no longer work and seemingly routine infections get horribly out of hand.At last count, 58 Americans in 13 states have been infected, including at least one who died and at least five who suffered permanent vision loss. All have been linked to tainted eyedrops, leading to a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-business-health-4572be6da44f4fab4e0f691f5e37e3ed">recall</a>.Experts marvel at how disease detectives pieced together the case: Patients were scattered across the country. The illnesses occurred over the span of months. The infections were found in different parts of the body — in the blood of some patients, in the lungs of others.But scientists also shudder, because they have long worried common bacteria will evolve so that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-health-infectious-diseases-antibiotics-fungi-2c661fd0c6ed899bedc51238d390603a">antibiotics no longer work against them</a>."This really shows us that it's not something theoretical and in the future. It's here,” said Dr. Luis Ostrosky, an infectious diseases expert at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.This account is drawn from phone and email interviews with U.S. disease investigators, health officials in three states and regulators in the U.S. and India.___The investigation started in May in Los Angeles County, California. A patient who'd recently been to an ophthalmologist came in with a bad eye infection. A month later, local health officials got a second report. Another bad eye infection, same eye doctor.Two more cases were reported in the county before the summer was over. The patients’ eyes were inflamed with heavy yellow pus that obscured most of the pupil. Among the four, two had complete vision loss in the affected eye.The hospital that reported the first infection determined it was caused by a bacteria called Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The institution, which was equipped to do advanced genetic testing, quickly realized the bacteria had a rare gene that protected it from the effects of commonly used antibiotics.It was an early break for investigators, said Kelsey OYong, of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.OYong and her colleagues knew they were dealing with a scary germ, and they notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Pseudomonas infections are not new. Drug-resistant strains of the bacteria cause more than 30,000 infections annually among hospitalized patients in the U.S. and more than 2,500 deaths, the CDC said. It can spread through contaminated hands or medical equipment, and is particularly dangerous to fragile patients who have catheters or are on breathing machines.But the California infections were in patients' eyes, not more common spots like the blood and lungs. Also, the lab analysis determined the infections were caused by a Pseudomonas germ that could resist just about every antibiotic.The only thing that worked was a newer antibiotic called cefiderocol, administered by IV.___Over the summer, Pseudomonas outbreaks were seen at long-term care facilities in two other states.In Connecticut, the first case was in June. Eventually, the bacteria was found in 25 patients from five nursing homes in different parts of the state, said Christopher Boyle, a spokesperson for Connecticut’s health department.In Davis County, Utah, north of Salt Lake City, the first of six cases was reported to the CDC in August. While the patients had the bacteria, none actually got sick, said Sarah Willardson of the Davis County Health Department.L.A. County health investigators thought the cases there might be due to some kind of equipment contamination at the eye doctor’s office.But that suspicion faded in early October, when genetic testing showed the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah were all caused by the same bacteria strain — a version of the germ that hadn’t been seen anywhere before.“That made us start thinking that this was some kind of a product,” said Maroya Walters, the CDC official supervising the investigation.___As the year went on, other reports of drug-resistant Pseudomonas came in, including a Washington man who died with a bloodstream infection.Given the initial cluster at the California ophthalmologist’s office, investigators suspected an eye care product was the culprit, though that hypothesis was complicated by the fact that the infections at the long-term care facilities were mainly found in the lungs.But it wasn’t impossible. Tear ducts drain into the nasal cavity, which leads to the lungs and could provide a path to deep inside the body.In early November, investigators determined most of the infected Connecticut patients had been given artificial tears, though it wasn't clear who had been given which brand.Then, on Nov. 9, a Florida hospital contacted the CDC to report bad eye infections connected to an outpatient clinic. A check of artificial tears brands used in Connecticut, Florida and Utah pointed to one common product: EzriCare Artificial Tears, an over-the-counter product marketed in the U.S. by New Jersey-based EzriCare LLC and made in India by Global Pharma Healthcare.___The Pseudomonas bacteria is “pretty much everywhere” in India and the drug-resistant germ is common in many hospitals, said Dr. Gagandeep Kang, who studies microbes in the Christian Medical College in the same state as Global Pharma's factory.In January, genetic sequencing confirmed the Florida cases were caused by the same bacteria strain as the clusters in California, Connecticut and Utah. On Jan. 20, the CDC urged doctors to avoid recommending the EzriCare product.There was no recall or widespread public notice, however. Investigators had strong circumstantial evidence pointing toward the EzriCare drops, but didn’t get more conclusive proof until more than a week later after testing found the bacteria in seven open bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears in Connecticut and New Jersey.In early February, CDC officials issued a public health alert and the FDA recalled the EzriCare eyedrops and Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Tears, another product made by Global Pharma. Last week, the recall was expanded to include Delsam Pharma’s Artificial Eye Ointment.Global Pharma didn't respond to emailed requests for comment.___A month before the first recall, the FDA blocked imports of Global Pharma products.FDA spokesperson Audra Harrison said the U.S. import ban was “unrelated to the outbreak," and was instead based on the company’s “inadequate response” to a records request and problems with its manufacturing procedures. She wouldn't say what those problems were.The subsequent recall, she said, was recommended due to lack of microbial testing and issues with the product’s formulation and packaging.The FDA, tasked with assuring the safety of drug products shipped to the U.S., has long struggled to inspect facilities in China and India that account for the vast majority of raw materials used in American medicines. A search of FDA’s online inspection database shows no records of agency staff visiting the plant.Indian drug inspectors visited the plant and the country's drug controller asked Global Pharma to stop making all products related to treating eye disorders until they finish their investigation, said P.V. Vijayalakshmi, the drug controller for southern Tamil Nadu state.___Ostrosky, the University of Texas expert, called the U.S. investigation “a public health victory” saying it shows that fighting drug-resistant bacteria requires international collaboration and investment. But he also said the case is disheartening.An infection that's usually easy to treat with common antibiotic eyedrops "has become an infection that can be deadly and has pretty much no treatment except one IV antibiotic,” he said.Pseudomonas now joins a growing list of bugs — including bacteria that cause urinary tract infections — that are getting increasingly difficult to treat, Ostrosky added.“It's like a wave coming for us," he said.___AP writers Matthew Perrone in Washington and Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi contributed.___The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.