WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for President Joe Biden found more classified documents at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, than previously known, the White House acknowledged Saturday.

White House lawyer Richard Sauber said in a statement that a total of six pages of classified documents were found during a search of Biden’s private library. The White House had said previously that only a single page was found there.

The latest disclosure is in addition to the discovery of documents found in December in Biden’s garage and in November at his former offices at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, from his time as vice president. The apparent mishandling of classified documents and official records from the Obama administration are under investigation by a former U.S. attorney, Robert Hur, who was appointed as a special counsel on Thursday by Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Sauber said in a statement Saturday that Biden’s personal lawyers, who did not have security clearances, stopped their search after finding the first page on Wednesday evening. Sauber found the remaining material Thursday, as he was facilitating their retrieval by the Department of Justice.

“While I was transferring it to the DOJ officials who accompanied me, five additional pages with classification markings were discovered among the material with it, for a total of six pages,” Sauber said. “The DOJ officials with me immediately took possession of them.”

Sauber has previously said that the White House was “confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced, and the president and his lawyers acted promptly upon discovery of this mistake.”

He reiterated Saturday that the White House would cooperate with Hur’s investigation.

The Justice Department historically imposes a high legal bar before bringing criminal charges in cases involving the mishandling of classified information, with a requirement that someone intended to break the law as opposed to being merely careless or negligent in doing so. The primary statute governing the illegal removal and retention of classified documents makes it a crime to “knowingly” remove classified documents and store them in an unauthorized way.

The circumstances involving Biden, at least as so far known, differ from a separate investigation into the mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s private club and residence in Florida.

In Trump’s case, special counsel Jack Smith is investigating whether anyone sought to obstruct their investigation into the retention of classified records at the Palm Beach estate. Justice Department officials have said Trump’s representatives failed to fully comply with a subpoena that sought the return of classified records, prompting agents to return to the home with a search warrant so they could collect additional materials.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673546739694.png" alt="Biden backing his Corvette into the garage next to stacks of boxes where classified documents were found-image from a 2020 Biden for President campaign ad " />
 <figcaption>Biden backing his Corvette into the garage next to stacks of boxes where classified documents were found-image from a 2020 Biden for President campaign ad </figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for President Joe Biden found more classified documents at his home in Wilmington, Delaware, than previously known, the White House acknowledged Saturday.White House lawyer Richard Sauber said in a statement that a total of six pages of classified documents were found during a search of Biden’s private library. The White House had said previously that only a single page was found there.The latest disclosure is in addition to the discovery of documents found in December in Biden’s garage and in November at his former offices at the Penn Biden Center in Washington, from his time as vice president. The apparent mishandling of classified documents and official records from the Obama administration are under investigation by a former U.S. attorney, Robert Hur, who was appointed as a special counsel on Thursday by Attorney General Merrick Garland.Sauber said in a statement Saturday that Biden’s personal lawyers, who did not have security clearances, stopped their search after finding the first page on Wednesday evening. Sauber found the remaining material Thursday, as he was facilitating their retrieval by the Department of Justice.“While I was transferring it to the DOJ officials who accompanied me, five additional pages with classification markings were discovered among the material with it, for a total of six pages,” Sauber said. “The DOJ officials with me immediately took possession of them.”Sauber has previously said that the White House was “confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced, and the president and his lawyers acted promptly upon discovery of this mistake.”He reiterated Saturday that the White House would cooperate with Hur’s investigation.The Justice Department historically imposes a high legal bar before bringing criminal charges in cases involving the mishandling of classified information, with a requirement that someone intended to break the law as opposed to being merely careless or negligent in doing so. The primary statute governing the illegal removal and retention of classified documents makes it a crime to “knowingly” remove classified documents and store them in an unauthorized way.The circumstances involving Biden, at least as so far known, differ from a separate investigation into the mishandling of classified documents at former President Donald Trump’s private club and residence in Florida.In Trump’s case, special counsel Jack Smith is investigating whether anyone sought to obstruct their investigation into the retention of classified records at the Palm Beach estate. Justice Department officials have said Trump’s representatives failed to fully comply with a subpoena that sought the return of classified records, prompting agents to return to the home with a search warrant so they could collect additional materials.

White House: More classified docs found at Biden’s home

AURORA, Neb.-Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two Arizona men after locating approximately 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Aurora.

The incident occurred Thursday, at approximately 8:30 a.m., when a trooper observed an eastbound Toyota Tacoma improperly pass a semi. The traffic stop occurred at mile 326 on I-80, near Aurora.

During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle then revealed several bags of suspected fentanyl pills located inside the tailgate of the pickup. The total number of pills was approximately 50,000, weighing more than 11 pounds. Troopers also found small amounts of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine.

The driver, Jesus Quinones, 27, and passenger, Daniel Alvillar, 44, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested for possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. Both were lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673702815746.jpeg" alt="Nebraska troopers seized 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills in a stop near Aurora. (NSP Photo)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska troopers seized 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills in a stop near Aurora. (NSP Photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>By NEBRASKA STATE PATROLAURORA, Neb.-Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two Arizona men after locating approximately 50,000 suspected fentanyl pills during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near Aurora.The incident occurred Thursday, at approximately 8:30 a.m., when a trooper observed an eastbound Toyota Tacoma improperly pass a semi. The traffic stop occurred at mile 326 on I-80, near Aurora.During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity. A search of the vehicle then revealed several bags of suspected fentanyl pills located inside the tailgate of the pickup. The total number of pills was approximately 50,000, weighing more than 11 pounds. Troopers also found small amounts of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine.The driver, Jesus Quinones, 27, and passenger, Daniel Alvillar, 44, both of Phoenix, Arizona, were arrested for possession of controlled substances and possession with intent to deliver. Both were lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

Neb. troopers seize 50K suspected fentanyl pills in stop near Aurora

WASHINGTON —Weeks after announcing that the U.S. would send a Patriot air defense battery and associated munitions to Ukraine, a Pentagon official confirmed Ukrainian soldiers will come to the U.S. to train on the Patriot system so they'll be ready to use it when it's delivered, according to a media release from the Department of Defense.

"Training for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot air defense system will begin as soon as next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. "The training will prepare approximately 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate, maintain and sustain the defensive system over a training course expected to last several months."&nbsp;

In the past few months, the Russians have increased their aerial bombardment of Ukraine, Ryder said, and the Patriot will help the Ukrainians stand up to that assault.&nbsp;

"The Patriot will contribute to the air defense capabilities that Ukraine already has," he said. "It's something that will enable them to take down ... ballistic missiles, adversary aircraft; [it's] really up to them on how they employ it. But this is part of a broader effort by the United States and the international community to provide Ukraine with the air defense capabilities that it needs to defend its population and its armed forces."&nbsp;

Fort Sill is home to the schoolhouse where the Army trains its soldiers and service members from allied and partner nations on using the Patriot system. Now, Ukrainian soldiers will train there, as well.

Ryder said training for those Ukrainian soldiers will include classroom work, hands-on training with the Patriot systems, as well as a simulation lab. It will also focus on what the Ukrainians will need once they are back home.&nbsp;

"The training will be tailored to provide relevant tactics, techniques and procedures based on the battlefield conditions in Ukraine to enable them to employ that to maximum effect once they are back in Ukraine," Ryder said.&nbsp;

Since Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $24.2 billion in security assistance. That assistance has included ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar systems, small arms, artillery, air defense systems, anti-aircraft and anti-armor systems.&nbsp;

Next week, Ryder said, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley will travel to Germany to host another meeting of the Ukraine contact group of international defense chiefs. Ryder said the group has helped identify, synchronize and ensure delivery of the capabilities the Ukrainians have needed to defend against Russian aggression.

"The secretary looks forward to meeting with defense leaders from the approximately 50 nations [comprising] this important group dedicated to Ukraine self-defense," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673396256887.png" alt="Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 10, 2023. photo courtesy Dept. of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 10, 2023. photo courtesy Dept. of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —Weeks after announcing that the U.S. would send a Patriot air defense battery and associated munitions to Ukraine, a Pentagon official confirmed Ukrainian soldiers will come to the U.S. to train on the Patriot system so they'll be ready to use it when it's delivered, according to a media release from the Department of Defense."Training for Ukrainian forces on the Patriot air defense system will begin as soon as next week at Fort Sill, Oklahoma," Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said. "The training will prepare approximately 90 to 100 Ukrainian soldiers to operate, maintain and sustain the defensive system over a training course expected to last several months."&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673396092973.png" alt="A Patriot launcher is staged at Fort Sill, Okla., Oct. 25, 2019. Last month, the U.S. committed to sending a Patriot air defense battery and associated munitions to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers will train to use the system at Fort Sill Photo courtesy U.S. Defense Department" />
 <figcaption>A Patriot launcher is staged at Fort Sill, Okla., Oct. 25, 2019. Last month, the U.S. committed to sending a Patriot air defense battery and associated munitions to Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers will train to use the system at Fort Sill Photo courtesy U.S. Defense Department</figcaption>
 </figure>In the past few months, the Russians have increased their aerial bombardment of Ukraine, Ryder said, and the Patriot will help the Ukrainians stand up to that assault.&nbsp;"The Patriot will contribute to the air defense capabilities that Ukraine already has," he said. "It's something that will enable them to take down ... ballistic missiles, adversary aircraft; [it's] really up to them on how they employ it. But this is part of a broader effort by the United States and the international community to provide Ukraine with the air defense capabilities that it needs to defend its population and its armed forces."&nbsp;Fort Sill is home to the schoolhouse where the Army trains its soldiers and service members from allied and partner nations on using the Patriot system. Now, Ukrainian soldiers will train there, as well.Ryder said training for those Ukrainian soldiers will include classroom work, hands-on training with the Patriot systems, as well as a simulation lab. It will also focus on what the Ukrainians will need once they are back home.&nbsp;"The training will be tailored to provide relevant tactics, techniques and procedures based on the battlefield conditions in Ukraine to enable them to employ that to maximum effect once they are back in Ukraine," Ryder said.&nbsp;Since Russia's invasion on Feb. 24, 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $24.2 billion in security assistance. That assistance has included ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, radar systems, small arms, artillery, air defense systems, anti-aircraft and anti-armor systems.&nbsp;Next week, Ryder said, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley will travel to Germany to host another meeting of the Ukraine contact group of international defense chiefs. Ryder said the group has helped identify, synchronize and ensure delivery of the capabilities the Ukrainians have needed to defend against Russian aggression."The secretary looks forward to meeting with defense leaders from the approximately 50 nations [comprising] this important group dedicated to Ukraine self-defense," he said.

US will begin training Ukrainian soldiers in Oklahoma next week 

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Maine scored its first Mega Millions jackpot — and someone beat the ill fortune of Friday the 13th — when a ticket purchased in the state matched the winning numbers for the lottery's estimated $1.35 billion grand prize.

The lucky combination of numbers drawn late Friday night were: 30, 43, 45, 46, 61 and gold Mega Ball 14.

The winner, whose name is not yet known, overcame steep odds of 1 in 302.6 million, which led to three months of drawings without a claim on the jackpot.

“Congratulations to the Maine State Lottery, which has just won its first-ever Mega Millions jackpot," Pat McDonald, Ohio lottery director and lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement early Saturday.

The jackpot was the second largest in Mega Millions history and the fourth time the game has had a billion-dollar win. The largest Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018 was $1.53 billion claimed by a single ticket holder in South Carolina.

Friday’s prosperous drawing also marked the seventh time there was a grand prize winner on Friday the 13th, a date superstitiously considered unlucky.

To claim the full $1.35 billion, the winner would need to take the money in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99?utm_source=Connatix&amp;utm_medium=HomePage">an annuity</a>&nbsp;with annual payments over 29 years. Most jackpot recipients prefer the reduced but quicker cash option, which for Friday night’s drawing was an estimated $724.6 million.

The next grand prize drawing on Tuesday will drop to an estimated $20 million and a cash option of $10.7 million.

Until Friday night, there had been 25 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.

There were more than 7 million winning tickets across nine prize tiers Friday. Beyond Maine's jackpot, 14 tickets matched five white balls to claim the second-tier prize of $1 million. Four were sold in New York, two in California and one each in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas, Mega Millions said.

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

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Maine scored its first Mega Millions jackpot — and someone beat the ill fortune of Friday the 13th — when a ticket purchased in the state matched the winning numbers for the lottery's estimated $1.35 billion grand prize.The lucky combination of numbers drawn late Friday night were: 30, 43, 45, 46, 61 and gold Mega Ball 14.The winner, whose name is not yet known, overcame steep odds of 1 in 302.6 million, which led to three months of drawings without a claim on the jackpot.“Congratulations to the Maine State Lottery, which has just won its first-ever Mega Millions jackpot," Pat McDonald, Ohio lottery director and lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium, said in a statement early Saturday.The jackpot was the second largest in Mega Millions history and the fourth time the game has had a billion-dollar win. The largest Mega Millions jackpot in October 2018 was $1.53 billion claimed by a single ticket holder in South Carolina.Friday’s prosperous drawing also marked the seventh time there was a grand prize winner on Friday the 13th, a date superstitiously considered unlucky.To claim the full $1.35 billion, the winner would need to take the money in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/powerball-jackpot-annuity-vs-cash-0e741f164106c0f4dba89707c5763c99?utm_source=Connatix&amp;utm_medium=HomePage">an annuity</a>&nbsp;with annual payments over 29 years. Most jackpot recipients prefer the reduced but quicker cash option, which for Friday night’s drawing was an estimated $724.6 million.The next grand prize drawing on Tuesday will drop to an estimated $20 million and a cash option of $10.7 million.Until Friday night, there had been 25 straight drawings without a jackpot winner.There were more than 7 million winning tickets across nine prize tiers Friday. Beyond Maine's jackpot, 14 tickets matched five white balls to claim the second-tier prize of $1 million. Four were sold in New York, two in California and one each in Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas, Mega Millions said.Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Winner: Mega Millions $1.35B grand prize ticket sold Friday the 13th

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two people have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Athena Brownfield, a 4-year-old Oklahoma girl whose 5-year-old sister was discovered wandering alone outside by a postal worker, state investigators said Friday.

Arizona authorities arrested 36-year-old Ivon Adams on Thursday, and he is being held in the Maricopa County jail in Phoenix pending extradition to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.

Authorities earlier arrested Alysia Adams, 31, on two counts of child neglect, the bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://nixle.us/E7FY5">said in a statement late Thursday</a>. Alysia Adams remained jailed in Oklahoma's Caddo County on Friday.

The bureau released no further details about the arrests or what the suspects' relationship is. It was not known if either Adams had an attorney to comment on their behalf.

A bureau spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.

The arrests are related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-city-1b331093878a39b70fccfdc6ba2e47dc">the search for Athena</a>, who was reported missing Tuesday in Cyril, about 70 miles&nbsp; southwest of Oklahoma City, the bureau said.

The postal carrier found Athena’s sister wandering alone outside Adams' home Monday afternoon and alerted Cyril police. Authorities then determined that Athena was missing.

The girls had been in the care of Adams and her husband, and Athena's sister was taken into protective custody, the bureau said Wednesday.

Authorities said they believe Athena was wearing a hoodie with a butterfly design when she disappeared.

The bureau said it was working with other law enforcement agencies and volunteers in the search, which included a helicopter, boats, all-terrain vehicles, a specially trained ground team, and a review of surveillance video from around Cyril.

The city of Cyril has also suspended trash service as investigators search for clues.

The bureau said agents were following up on tips coming from Oklahoma and other states.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673617381405.png" alt="Adams-photo Caddo&nbsp; County, Oklahoma" />
 <figcaption>Adams-photo Caddo&nbsp; County, Oklahoma</figcaption>
 </figure>OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Two people have now been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Athena Brownfield, a 4-year-old Oklahoma girl whose 5-year-old sister was discovered wandering alone outside by a postal worker, state investigators said Friday.Arizona authorities arrested 36-year-old Ivon Adams on Thursday, and he is being held in the Maricopa County jail in Phoenix pending extradition to Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said in a news release.Authorities earlier arrested Alysia Adams, 31, on two counts of child neglect, the bureau&nbsp;<a href="https://nixle.us/E7FY5">said in a statement late Thursday</a>. Alysia Adams remained jailed in Oklahoma's Caddo County on Friday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673636085787.png" alt="Adams photo Maricopa County" />
 <figcaption>Adams photo Maricopa County</figcaption>
 </figure>The bureau released no further details about the arrests or what the suspects' relationship is. It was not known if either Adams had an attorney to comment on their behalf.A bureau spokesperson did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.The arrests are related to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/oklahoma-city-1b331093878a39b70fccfdc6ba2e47dc">the search for Athena</a>, who was reported missing Tuesday in Cyril, about 70 miles&nbsp; southwest of Oklahoma City, the bureau said.The postal carrier found Athena’s sister wandering alone outside Adams' home Monday afternoon and alerted Cyril police. Authorities then determined that Athena was missing.The girls had been in the care of Adams and her husband, and Athena's sister was taken into protective custody, the bureau said Wednesday.Authorities said they believe Athena was wearing a hoodie with a butterfly design when she disappeared.The bureau said it was working with other law enforcement agencies and volunteers in the search, which included a helicopter, boats, all-terrain vehicles, a specially trained ground team, and a review of surveillance video from around Cyril.The city of Cyril has also suspended trash service as investigators search for clues.The bureau said agents were following up on tips coming from Oklahoma and other states.

2nd arrest in case of missing 4-year-old; search continues

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-13/the-keystone-operator-must-repay-some-not-all-of-the-tax-dollars-spent-on-its-kansas-oil-spill">Kansas News Service</a>

When the Keystone pipeline burst in rural Kansas last month, county workers rushed to build an emergency dam on Mill Creek.

Meanwhile, federal agencies dispatched pipeline and environmental experts to the scene.

And the state set about sampling water and searching for injured animals.

All
 of this costs taxpayers — from transporting and housing workers to 
cladding them in waders that require special disposal because the gear 
becomes permanently contaminated.

TC Energy, the Canadian company 
behind the spill, will have to repay some, but not all, of the public 
money spent on handling it.

This week, several government agencies expressed confidence that they will ultimately recover their expenses.

In the case of the federal and state governments, laws and binding orders apply.

Washington
 County emergency manager Randy Hubbard said that he isn’t aware of any 
laws that require TC Energy to reimburse a local government, but the 
company has vowed to do so.

“From day one TC Energy has been very 
adamant and forthcoming about offering to cover any County related 
expenses,” he said in an email, “including but not limited to labor, 
resources or materials.”

TC Energy reported an annual revenue of more than $13.3 billion and a net income of more than $2 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.

The
 Keystone is the company’s biggest pipeline system for oil and carries 
crude from Canada to refineries in the Midwest and the Gulf Coast. The 
system has <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/" target="_blank">spilled numerous times</a>, but the rupture in Kansas that released an estimated 588,000 gallons of tar sands crude oil was the biggest spill to date.

A wide array of government agencies responds to inland oil spills.

At least two Kansas agencies say they can get TC Energy to reimburse for their efforts responding to the spill.

<a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_001_0071v.html" target="_blank">By state law</a>,
 TC Energy must repay the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 
If the company fails to pay, the same law instructs the attorney general
 to sue.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks said it, too,
 will recuperate its costs. The agency is tracking staff time, mileage 
and equipment.

The federal government, meanwhile, could rack up 
costs not just through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but 
also for support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
 the U.S. Department of Transportation and more.

Some of that spending of tax dollars will get repaid.

This month, TC Energy agreed to an EPA order that binds the company 
to reimburse direct and indirect costs within 30 days of being billed.

That
 includes, for example, the federal government monitoring TC Energy 
workers and contractors pulling oil from the creek. And the 
reimbursement order applies retroactively to costs dating back to the 
spill more than a month ago.

But other federal activities fall outside the order — such as sending pipeline safety enforcers to Washington County.

USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said it doesn’t have the authority to seek reimbursement.

The
 county has already submitted documentation of its costs to the company,
 Hubbard said. (The Kansas News Service has filed a public information 
request for the records.)

County emergency workers provided boots on the ground critical to a swift response.

At
 about 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, TC Energy called in a possible leak to a 
federal hotline for oil spills. By about 1:30 a.m., Hubbard and the 
county’s road supervisor got involved. The county worked with the 
company to dam Mill Creek, where thousands of barrels of oil were 
sliding downstream.

“A better part of the first day was spent 
building this dam,” Hubbard said in an email. “Additionally, our Road 
and Bridge crew spent a better part of the first 2 days putting down 
rock and prepping/grooming roads in the immediate area to better support
 the anticipated arrival of heavy equipment for the response.”

Hubbard
 praised TC Energy’s efforts, saying he had witnessed its commitment to 
remediating the area, keeping workers safe and communicating with 
landowners.

“TC Energy has been great to work with throughout the 
entirety of this unfortunate event,” he said. “Additionally, TC Energy 
has used, and continues to use local contractors whenever possible.”

The
 company announced it would donate $7,500 to equip local emergency 
responders with better mobile and radio equipment. It also said it would
 match donations made by the public to Washington County Hospital.

1.
 State environment officials are now finding less benzene and other 
chemicals downstream from the four-mile stretch of creek that TC Energy 
isolated last week.

That stretch had already been dammed to 
hold back floating oil but water continued to flow downstream beneath 
the surface. As of last week, TC Energy is temporarily diverting water 
from upstream of the spill, allowing it to bypass and seal off four 
miles of stream while the cleanup continues.

This week, the state 
announced that contamination is decreasing downstream in Mill Creek and 
the river it feeds into, the Little Blue. However, it says people 
shouldn’t touch Mill Creek anywhere downstream of the spill site. They 
should keep their pets and livestock away, too.

The Kansas News Service has asked the state for the results of weekly water sampling.

Families
 who rely on private wells in the area or who use water from Mill Creek 
or the Little Blue for livestock and ponds can ask TC Energy to test 
their water. (Email public_affairs_us@tcenergy.com or call 
1-855-920-4697.)

2. Oil-soaked animals get treated at a rehabilitation shelter.

“This
 area is heated, covered, protected, and staffed by a team of wildlife 
rehabilitation professionals and biologists,” a spokesman for the EPA 
said by email. “The lead in this response has over 20 years of 
experience in wildlife rehabilitation and oiled wildlife response.”

Reporters
 have not been allowed to visit the spill site or the animal 
rehabilitation shelter, or interview the Fish and Wildlife Service, 
which works on wildlife matters at the site.

The total number of dead animals isn’t clear, but includes at least one beaver that succumbed despite attempts to treat it.

Scores
 of fish died, even though oil spills in water bodies generally don’t 
take the same toll on fish as they do on turtles, birds and mammals that
 penetrate the oil slick to enter and leave the water. Scientists say 
the impact on fish increases when oil spills happen in <a href="https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/how-oil-spills-affect-fish-and-whales.html" target="_blank">shallow water</a>.

3.
 Neither the state nor the federal government have released photos of 
injured, dead or rehabilitated animals that the Kansas News Service has 
asked for. Kansas says it is withholding the photos because it is 
investigating the oil spill.

4. TC Oil signed a consent order this month with the EPA that requires it to clean up Mill Creek and its banks.

The
 company has to recover the spilled oil from the creek and its banks, 
and remove contaminated soil and plants that could lead to more 
chemicals reaching the water.

This oil recovery has to continue until the EPA and Natural Resource Trustee Agencies agree the company is finished.

TC Energy also has to monitor for contamination downstream, but the order doesn’t specify what methods it should use. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-15/not-just-any-oil-spill-the-keystone-pipeline-dumped-notoriously-hard-to-clean-dilbit-in-kansas" target="_blank">The Keystone spilled dilbit</a>
 in Kansas, a special product from the Canadian tar sands that doesn’t 
behave like traditional crude oil. A National Academies of Sciences 
study found little in the way of reliable options to detect dilbit once 
it begins moving below the surface in moving water.

The federal 
consent order makes no mention of special requirements related to 
cleaning up dilbit, though top scientists have urged the federal 
government to change its policies and procedures to distinguish dilbit 
spills from regular crude oil spills.

5. It's unclear whether the federal government considers the consent order to apply to the entire spill site.

When
 the pipeline burst, it spewed crude oil into the air that splattered 
across acres of agricultural land, in addition to the oil that poured 
into the creek.

The Kansas News Service asked whether the EPA’s 
consent order applies to all land affected by the spill, not just the 
creek and its banks.

The EPA replied: “The current order is issued
 pursuant to the Clean Water Act. It requires the Respondent to conduct 
removal actions to abate and mitigate the imminent and substantial 
threat to Mill Creek and adjoining shorelines that is presented by the 
discharge of oil from the ruptured pipeline.”

But the EPA added that it “continues to coordinate with KDHE on a comprehensive cleanup strategy.”

The EPA also says KDHE may require TC Energy to perform work “that is beyond EPA’s Clean Water Act authority.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673624080128.png" alt="Crews work on oil recovery at Mill Creek on Dec. 28, 2022. EPA" />
 <figcaption>Crews work on oil recovery at Mill Creek on Dec. 28, 2022. EPA</figcaption>
 </figure>By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2023-01-13/the-keystone-operator-must-repay-some-not-all-of-the-tax-dollars-spent-on-its-kansas-oil-spill">Kansas News Service</a>When the Keystone pipeline burst in rural Kansas last month, county workers rushed to build an emergency dam on Mill Creek.Meanwhile, federal agencies dispatched pipeline and environmental experts to the scene.And the state set about sampling water and searching for injured animals.All
 of this costs taxpayers — from transporting and housing workers to 
cladding them in waders that require special disposal because the gear 
becomes permanently contaminated.TC Energy, the Canadian company 
behind the spill, will have to repay some, but not all, of the public 
money spent on handling it.This week, several government agencies expressed confidence that they will ultimately recover their expenses.In the case of the federal and state governments, laws and binding orders apply.Washington
 County emergency manager Randy Hubbard said that he isn’t aware of any 
laws that require TC Energy to reimburse a local government, but the 
company has vowed to do so.“From day one TC Energy has been very 
adamant and forthcoming about offering to cover any County related 
expenses,” he said in an email, “including but not limited to labor, 
resources or materials.”TC Energy reported an annual revenue of more than $13.3 billion and a net income of more than $2 billion in its most recent <a href="https://www.tcenergy.com/siteassets/pdfs/investors/reports-and-filings/annual-and-quarterly-reports/2021/tc-2021-annual-report.pdf" target="_blank">yearly report</a>.The
 Keystone is the company’s biggest pipeline system for oil and carries 
crude from Canada to refineries in the Midwest and the Gulf Coast. The 
system has <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2022/12/13/keystone-pipeline-has-history-of-spills-warnings-and-fines-kansas-spill-is-largest-yet/" target="_blank">spilled numerous times</a>, but the rupture in Kansas that released an estimated 588,000 gallons of tar sands crude oil was the biggest spill to date.<h2>State and federal expenses</h2>A wide array of government agencies responds to inland oil spills.At least two Kansas agencies say they can get TC Energy to reimburse for their efforts responding to the spill.<a href="https://www.ksrevisor.org/statutes/chapters/ch65/065_001_0071v.html" target="_blank">By state law</a>,
 TC Energy must repay the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. 
If the company fails to pay, the same law instructs the attorney general
 to sue.The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks said it, too,
 will recuperate its costs. The agency is tracking staff time, mileage 
and equipment.The federal government, meanwhile, could rack up 
costs not just through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but 
also for support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
 the U.S. Department of Transportation and more.Some of that spending of tax dollars will get repaid.This month, TC Energy agreed to an EPA order that binds the company 
to reimburse direct and indirect costs within 30 days of being billed.That
 includes, for example, the federal government monitoring TC Energy 
workers and contractors pulling oil from the creek. And the 
reimbursement order applies retroactively to costs dating back to the 
spill more than a month ago.But other federal activities fall outside the order — such as sending pipeline safety enforcers to Washington County.USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration said it doesn’t have the authority to seek reimbursement.<h2>County government expenses</h2>The
 county has already submitted documentation of its costs to the company,
 Hubbard said. (The Kansas News Service has filed a public information 
request for the records.)County emergency workers provided boots on the ground critical to a swift response.At
 about 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 8, TC Energy called in a possible leak to a 
federal hotline for oil spills. By about 1:30 a.m., Hubbard and the 
county’s road supervisor got involved. The county worked with the 
company to dam Mill Creek, where thousands of barrels of oil were 
sliding downstream.“A better part of the first day was spent 
building this dam,” Hubbard said in an email. “Additionally, our Road 
and Bridge crew spent a better part of the first 2 days putting down 
rock and prepping/grooming roads in the immediate area to better support
 the anticipated arrival of heavy equipment for the response.”Hubbard
 praised TC Energy’s efforts, saying he had witnessed its commitment to 
remediating the area, keeping workers safe and communicating with 
landowners.“TC Energy has been great to work with throughout the 
entirety of this unfortunate event,” he said. “Additionally, TC Energy 
has used, and continues to use local contractors whenever possible.”The
 company announced it would donate $7,500 to equip local emergency 
responders with better mobile and radio equipment. It also said it would
 match donations made by the public to Washington County Hospital.<h2>More about the oil spill</h2>Here are more details about the spill.1.
 State environment officials are now finding less benzene and other 
chemicals downstream from the four-mile stretch of creek that TC Energy 
isolated last week.That stretch had already been dammed to 
hold back floating oil but water continued to flow downstream beneath 
the surface. As of last week, TC Energy is temporarily diverting water 
from upstream of the spill, allowing it to bypass and seal off four 
miles of stream while the cleanup continues.This week, the state 
announced that contamination is decreasing downstream in Mill Creek and 
the river it feeds into, the Little Blue. However, it says people 
shouldn’t touch Mill Creek anywhere downstream of the spill site. They 
should keep their pets and livestock away, too.The Kansas News Service has asked the state for the results of weekly water sampling.Families
 who rely on private wells in the area or who use water from Mill Creek 
or the Little Blue for livestock and ponds can ask TC Energy to test 
their water. (Email public_affairs_us@tcenergy.com or call 
1-855-920-4697.)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673624165345.png" alt="This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a four-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy" />
 <figcaption>This map shows where TC Energy will divert Mill Creek to avoid a four-mile stretch that needs intensive cleanup. TC Energy</figcaption>
 </figure>2. Oil-soaked animals get treated at a rehabilitation shelter.“This
 area is heated, covered, protected, and staffed by a team of wildlife 
rehabilitation professionals and biologists,” a spokesman for the EPA 
said by email. “The lead in this response has over 20 years of 
experience in wildlife rehabilitation and oiled wildlife response.”Reporters
 have not been allowed to visit the spill site or the animal 
rehabilitation shelter, or interview the Fish and Wildlife Service, 
which works on wildlife matters at the site.The total number of dead animals isn’t clear, but includes at least one beaver that succumbed despite attempts to treat it.Scores
 of fish died, even though oil spills in water bodies generally don’t 
take the same toll on fish as they do on turtles, birds and mammals that
 penetrate the oil slick to enter and leave the water. Scientists say 
the impact on fish increases when oil spills happen in <a href="https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/oil-and-chemical-spills/oil-spills/how-oil-spills-affect-fish-and-whales.html" target="_blank">shallow water</a>.3.
 Neither the state nor the federal government have released photos of 
injured, dead or rehabilitated animals that the Kansas News Service has 
asked for. Kansas says it is withholding the photos because it is 
investigating the oil spill.4. TC Oil signed a consent order this month with the EPA that requires it to clean up Mill Creek and its banks.The
 company has to recover the spilled oil from the creek and its banks, 
and remove contaminated soil and plants that could lead to more 
chemicals reaching the water.This oil recovery has to continue until the EPA and Natural Resource Trustee Agencies agree the company is finished.TC Energy also has to monitor for contamination downstream, but the order doesn’t specify what methods it should use. <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-12-15/not-just-any-oil-spill-the-keystone-pipeline-dumped-notoriously-hard-to-clean-dilbit-in-kansas" target="_blank">The Keystone spilled dilbit</a>
 in Kansas, a special product from the Canadian tar sands that doesn’t 
behave like traditional crude oil. A National Academies of Sciences 
study found little in the way of reliable options to detect dilbit once 
it begins moving below the surface in moving water.The federal 
consent order makes no mention of special requirements related to 
cleaning up dilbit, though top scientists have urged the federal 
government to change its policies and procedures to distinguish dilbit 
spills from regular crude oil spills.5. It's unclear whether the federal government considers the consent order to apply to the entire spill site.When
 the pipeline burst, it spewed crude oil into the air that splattered 
across acres of agricultural land, in addition to the oil that poured 
into the creek.The Kansas News Service asked whether the EPA’s 
consent order applies to all land affected by the spill, not just the 
creek and its banks.The EPA replied: “The current order is issued
 pursuant to the Clean Water Act. It requires the Respondent to conduct 
removal actions to abate and mitigate the imminent and substantial 
threat to Mill Creek and adjoining shorelines that is presented by the 
discharge of oil from the ruptured pipeline.”But the EPA added that it “continues to coordinate with KDHE on a comprehensive cleanup strategy.”The EPA also says KDHE may require TC Energy to perform work “that is beyond EPA’s Clean Water Act authority.”

Keystone operator must repay some, not all, tax dollars spent on oil spill

Critics call it a ‘solution in search of a problem’

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/12/senators-introduce-parental-bill-of-rights-proposal-to-ensure-parental-control-over-education/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — As promised, State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil has 
introduced a bill that he says would ensure that parents have control 
over the teaching of their children and that inappropriate books or 
instruction are not offered.

On Thursday, he and nine cosponsors introduced Legislative Bill 374, 
the “Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act,” after 
stating last week in a floor speech that parents needed to be the 
“ultimate decision makers” for their children.

“This bill is to guarantee that they know what’s in the curriculum, 
in the library and what’s being taught, so they can control what’s being
 taught,” Murman said Thursday.

When asked, he could not cite specific examples of how parents had 
been denied information about what public schools are teaching. The 
senator did say that he’s seen school books in Nebraska that he 
considered not “age appropriate,” though he could not cite the books.

Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood called the bill a “solution in search of a problem.”

Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz, a former fourth grade teacher, agreed, 
saying that she was frequently asked by parents about her lesson plans 
and she always answered their questions.

Walz said any problems can be directed, and dealt with, by a local school board.

The bill of rights proposal is patterned after similar bills in 
Florida, Kansas and Missouri and comes after conservative U.S. Sen. Josh
 Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a similar measure last year in the Senate.

Eighty-four similar bills, mostly introduced by Republican state 
lawmakers, were filed in 26 states last year, according to a Georgetown 
University think tank called FutureEd.

One was in Nebraska, LB 1158, from Bellevue Sen. Rita Sanders. The 
proposal was amended and advanced from the Education Committee,but 
failed to advance in the 2022 session. Sanders has introduced LB 71 this
 year, which appears more narrowly focused than Murman’s “bill of 
rights” proposal.

Murman, who was elected chairman of the Education Committee last 
week, now has additional power in scheduling and advancing legislation, 
boosting the chances that LB 374 could advance.

Murman’s bill&nbsp;and other bill of rights proposals have been inspired 
by fears from some parents that their children are being taught about 
sex when it’s not “age appropriate,” that critical race theory is part 
of instruction in K-12 schools and that inappropriate books are being 
stocked in school libraries.

Jenni Benson, the president of the state teachers union, said the 
Nebraska State Education Association has always supported parents and 
teachers working together to educate children.

Some conservative groups and parents disagree, however, and have made
 school board meeting a battleground for the nation’s culture wars in 
recent months.

Benson said that “relentless attacks by some elected officials” have 
exacerbated the shortage of teachers in the state, despite the 
widespread support for public education.

“I believe it is critically important that we work together to 
address concerns through communication versus accusations,” she said.

Murman said LB 374 sets up a “clear avenue” for parents to review 
educational materials and, if necessary, lodge objections to certain 
library books or learning materials. It also provides for an appeal 
process.

Under the bill, a school district must develop a policy on parental 
rights by July &nbsp;2024 and create a “parent transparency portal” on its 
website listing all library items, as well as “learning materials, 
activities, and curriculum used for student instruction” and “social and
 emotional learning materials.”

Parents, under the bill, can request that a school determine whether 
books or materials should be marked “parental review recommended” if 
they contain inappropriate sexual content or excessive violence or 
profanity.

LB 374 also states that parents have a right to expect that their 
children will not be taught that they “bear collective guilt” or are 
“inherently responsible” for actions committed in the past, an apparent 
reference to the teaching of critical race theory.

Critical race theory, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05">Education Week</a>,
 is an academic concept that “racism is not merely the product of 
individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal 
systems and policies.”

Murman said, “If it’s not happening now, we shouldn’t be responsible, no matter what is the color of your skin is.”

He said he doesn’t look at the bill as “handcuffing” teachers for 
pursuing certain subjects, but “liberating” them from pressure to “teach
 a certain way.”

<h2>Critics call it a ‘solution in search of a problem’</h2>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/12/senators-introduce-parental-bill-of-rights-proposal-to-ensure-parental-control-over-education/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — As promised, State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil has 
introduced a bill that he says would ensure that parents have control 
over the teaching of their children and that inappropriate books or 
instruction are not offered.On Thursday, he and nine cosponsors introduced Legislative Bill 374, 
the “Parents’ Bill of Rights and Academic Transparency Act,” after 
stating last week in a floor speech that parents needed to be the 
“ultimate decision makers” for their children.“This bill is to guarantee that they know what’s in the curriculum, 
in the library and what’s being taught, so they can control what’s being
 taught,” Murman said Thursday.When asked, he could not cite specific examples of how parents had 
been denied information about what public schools are teaching. The 
senator did say that he’s seen school books in Nebraska that he 
considered not “age appropriate,” though he could not cite the books.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1673623613954.jpeg" alt=" State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption> State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil (Courtesy of the Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>‘Solution in search of a problem’</h2>Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood called the bill a “solution in search of a problem.”Fremont Sen. Lynne Walz, a former fourth grade teacher, agreed, 
saying that she was frequently asked by parents about her lesson plans 
and she always answered their questions.Walz said any problems can be directed, and dealt with, by a local school board.<h2>Part of ‘culture wars’</h2>The bill of rights proposal is patterned after similar bills in 
Florida, Kansas and Missouri and comes after conservative U.S. Sen. Josh
 Hawley, R-Mo., introduced a similar measure last year in the Senate.Eighty-four similar bills, mostly introduced by Republican state 
lawmakers, were filed in 26 states last year, according to a Georgetown 
University think tank called FutureEd.One was in Nebraska, LB 1158, from Bellevue Sen. Rita Sanders. The 
proposal was amended and advanced from the Education Committee,but 
failed to advance in the 2022 session. Sanders has introduced LB 71 this
 year, which appears more narrowly focused than Murman’s “bill of 
rights” proposal.Murman, who was elected chairman of the Education Committee last 
week, now has additional power in scheduling and advancing legislation, 
boosting the chances that LB 374 could advance.<h2>Some parents fearful</h2>Murman’s bill&nbsp;and other bill of rights proposals have been inspired 
by fears from some parents that their children are being taught about 
sex when it’s not “age appropriate,” that critical race theory is part 
of instruction in K-12 schools and that inappropriate books are being 
stocked in school libraries.Jenni Benson, the president of the state teachers union, said the 
Nebraska State Education Association has always supported parents and 
teachers working together to educate children.Some conservative groups and parents disagree, however, and have made
 school board meeting a battleground for the nation’s culture wars in 
recent months.<h2>‘Relentless attacks’ don’t help</h2>Benson said that “relentless attacks by some elected officials” have 
exacerbated the shortage of teachers in the state, despite the 
widespread support for public education.“I believe it is critically important that we work together to 
address concerns through communication versus accusations,” she said.Murman said LB 374 sets up a “clear avenue” for parents to review 
educational materials and, if necessary, lodge objections to certain 
library books or learning materials. It also provides for an appeal 
process.<h2>Transparency portal required</h2>Under the bill, a school district must develop a policy on parental 
rights by July &nbsp;2024 and create a “parent transparency portal” on its 
website listing all library items, as well as “learning materials, 
activities, and curriculum used for student instruction” and “social and
 emotional learning materials.”Parents, under the bill, can request that a school determine whether 
books or materials should be marked “parental review recommended” if 
they contain inappropriate sexual content or excessive violence or 
profanity.LB 374 also states that parents have a right to expect that their 
children will not be taught that they “bear collective guilt” or are 
“inherently responsible” for actions committed in the past, an apparent 
reference to the teaching of critical race theory.Critical race theory, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05">Education Week</a>,
 is an academic concept that “racism is not merely the product of 
individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal 
systems and policies.”Murman said, “If it’s not happening now, we shouldn’t be responsible, no matter what is the color of your skin is.”He said he doesn’t look at the bill as “handcuffing” teachers for 
pursuing certain subjects, but “liberating” them from pressure to “teach
 a certain way.”

Nebraska senators introduce parental ‘bill of rights’ proposal

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/aclu-condemns-proposed-drag-show-ban-as-part-of-national-effort-to-push-lgbtq-people-out-of-public-life/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — A bill introduced Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature to 
block minors from attending “drag” shows was condemned as part of the 
culture war against the LGBTQ+ community.

“Let’s call this what it is — an unconstitutional censorship attempt 
rooted in a coordinated national effort to push LGBTQ+ people out of 
public life,” said Jane Seu, the legal and policy counsel for the ACLU 
of Nebraska.

Legislative Bill 371, introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil
 and eight other senators, would bar persons under 19 years of age from 
attending a drag show and block those under 21 from attending such shows
 where alcohol is served.

The bill also establishes fines of up to $10,000 for establishments 
that allow under-aged persons to attend a drag show and makes it a 
misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, for an adult to
 allow a minor to attend.

The Nebraska proposal comes after similar bills banning minors from 
attending drag shows have been introduced in several states, including 
Missouri, Arizona and Texas.

Drag shows feature performers singing or dancing in elaborate costumes and makeup impersonating men or women.

While proponents maintain that it is harmless, fun entertainment, 
critics say such shows are inappropriate for minors, involving 
“perverted” and “hyper-sexualized” adults trying to sexualize young 
people.

Controversy and protests have spread across the county, with several shows featuring “drag queens” cancelled in recent months.

A shooting at a drag show at a Colorado Springs lounge in November 
left five dead and 17 wounded. One story time in California featuring 
drag performers was disrupted by the far-right Proud Boys group in July.

Shortly after LB 371 was introduced, Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, the first
 openly LGBTQ candidate elected to the State Legislature, filed a motion
 to kill the bill.

The ACLU of Nebraska, in a press release, said LB 371 would be a violation of free speech.

“Drag is a visual expression and creative celebration of LGBTQ+ 
culture,” Seu said. “It has been a part of the creative community for 
centuries and this bill would have far-reaching implications on the 
historical tradition of artistic freedom.”

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/aclu-condemns-proposed-drag-show-ban-as-part-of-national-effort-to-push-lgbtq-people-out-of-public-life/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — A bill introduced Thursday in the Nebraska Legislature to 
block minors from attending “drag” shows was condemned as part of the 
culture war against the LGBTQ+ community.“Let’s call this what it is — an unconstitutional censorship attempt 
rooted in a coordinated national effort to push LGBTQ+ people out of 
public life,” said Jane Seu, the legal and policy counsel for the ACLU 
of Nebraska.Legislative Bill 371, introduced by State Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil
 and eight other senators, would bar persons under 19 years of age from 
attending a drag show and block those under 21 from attending such shows
 where alcohol is served.The bill also establishes fines of up to $10,000 for establishments 
that allow under-aged persons to attend a drag show and makes it a 
misdemeanor crime, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000, for an adult to
 allow a minor to attend.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645553414913.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha (Courtesy of Unicameral Information Office)</figcaption>
 </figure>The Nebraska proposal comes after similar bills banning minors from 
attending drag shows have been introduced in several states, including 
Missouri, Arizona and Texas.Drag shows feature performers singing or dancing in elaborate costumes and makeup impersonating men or women.While proponents maintain that it is harmless, fun entertainment, 
critics say such shows are inappropriate for minors, involving 
“perverted” and “hyper-sexualized” adults trying to sexualize young 
people.Controversy and protests have spread across the county, with several shows featuring “drag queens” cancelled in recent months.A shooting at a drag show at a Colorado Springs lounge in November 
left five dead and 17 wounded. One story time in California featuring 
drag performers was disrupted by the far-right Proud Boys group in July.Shortly after LB 371 was introduced, Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, the first
 openly LGBTQ candidate elected to the State Legislature, filed a motion
 to kill the bill.The ACLU of Nebraska, in a press release, said LB 371 would be a violation of free speech.“Drag is a visual expression and creative celebration of LGBTQ+ 
culture,” Seu said. “It has been a part of the creative community for 
centuries and this bill would have far-reaching implications on the 
historical tradition of artistic freedom.”

Nebraska ACLU condemns proposed ‘drag’ show ban

KANSAS CITY (AP) —U.S. air travel returned mostly to normal Thursday, a day after a computer system that sends safety information to pilots broke down and grounded traffic from coast to coast.

By midafternoon on the East Coast, about 150 flights had been canceled and more than 3,700 delayed — much lower figures than on Wednesday, when more than 1,300 flights were scrubbed and 11,000 delayed.

Attention turned to the federal agency where the technology failure apparently started hours before it inconvenienced more than 1 million travelers.

The Federal Aviation Administration said a damaged database file appeared to have caused the outage in the safety-alert system. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg promised a thorough examination to avoid another major failure.

“Our immediate focus is technical — understanding exactly how this happened, why the redundancies and the backups that were build into the system were not able to prevent the level of disruption that we saw,” Buttigieg told reporters.

Buttigieg said there was no indication that the outage was caused by a cyberattack but that officials would not rule that out until they know more.

The FAA said late Thursday that a preliminary analysis showed the breakdown came after “a data file was damaged by personnel who failed to follow procedures.”

The massive disruption was the latest black eye for the agency, which has traded blame with airlines over who has inconvenienced passengers more. Critics, including airline and tourism leaders, say agency technology is underfunded.

“Investment is going to be required, no doubt,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told CNBC. “It’s going to be billions of dollars, and it’s not something that is done overnight.”

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has been critical of the FAA on a variety of issues, including staffing of air traffic controllers. He says the agency makes “a heroic effort” and does well most of the time but can be overwhelmed during busy travel times.

“They need more investment for technology,” Kirby said at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event in September. “They have been saying it."

Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington state, the top Democrat on a House aviation subcommittee, said the outage shows the weakness of the FAA's technology and that the agency needs to make significant improvements.

“It's one thing to get things up and going on the old software,” Larsen said in an interview. “It's another thing to invest in the new software platforms that are necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again.”

Mike McCormick, a former FAA manager of airspace security who retired in 2017 after about 35 years at the agency, was more confident in FAA technology. He said the agency modernized computer systems over the past 15 years and is 95% up to date, having upgraded to next-generation satellite-based systems for navigation, flight tracking and communication.

“Software, hardware, the final upgrades, were completed in the last three years, so now they’re actually working on the next generation beyond that and the enhancements to the systems,” said McCormick, who now teaches air-traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The system that generates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-federal-aviation-administration-business-9e277db75130cc7e4d4b6c6a7bdaad7c">NOTAMs — or Notice to Air Missions</a>&nbsp;— also was upgraded, but the outage happened as an engineer was working on the main system and the database somehow became corrupted, McCormick said, citing conversations with people at the FAA.

When they switched to the backup system, its database also was corrupted, McCormick said. The system then had to be rebooted.

“Things can still go wrong,” McCormick said. “You can still have human error, you can still have procedural errors, you can still have technological errors.”

Michael Huerta, FAA administrator from 2013 to 2018, said the systems need to be updated constantly to keep up with technology. Nothing in the FAA system is so old that it's in danger of failing, he said, especially the system that tracks and communicates with planes.

“The public should definitely be confident that the air traffic control system is safe,” he said.

But the NOTAM system is about a decade old when systems reach the point where vendors don't support it or the platform that it runs on has been upgraded.

“It's not a one-and-done type of event,” he said. “It's not very many years that go by before you have to upgrade it.”

The outage came at a bad time for both the FAA and Buttigieg.

The FAA is trying to repair its reputation after being widely criticized for the way it approved the Boeing 737 Max without fully understanding a flight-control system that malfunctioned and played a key role in two crashes that killed 346 people. The agency took a more hands-on approach when considering — and eventually improving — changes that Boeing made to get the plane back in the air.

The meltdown at an agency overseen by the Transportation Department could also undercut Buttigieg’s moral authority to chastise airlines when they cancel or delay flights. He has gone after the airlines since last summer, most recently over disruptions at Southwest Airlines.

Wednesday's breakdown showed how much American air travel depends on the computer system that generates NOTAMs.

Before a plane takes off, pilots and airline dispatchers must review the notices, which include details about weather, runway closures or other temporary factors that could affect the flight. The system was once telephone-based but moved online years ago.

Buttigieg said when the system broke down Tuesday night, a backup system went into effect. The FAA tried a complete reboot of the main system Wednesday morning, but that failed, leading the FAA to take the rare step of preventing planes from taking off.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647058235139.png" alt="The Federal Aviation Administration said a damaged database file appeared to have caused the outage in the safety-alert system." />
 <figcaption>The Federal Aviation Administration said a damaged database file appeared to have caused the outage in the safety-alert system.</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY (AP) —U.S. air travel returned mostly to normal Thursday, a day after a computer system that sends safety information to pilots broke down and grounded traffic from coast to coast.By midafternoon on the East Coast, about 150 flights had been canceled and more than 3,700 delayed — much lower figures than on Wednesday, when more than 1,300 flights were scrubbed and 11,000 delayed.Attention turned to the federal agency where the technology failure apparently started hours before it inconvenienced more than 1 million travelers.The Federal Aviation Administration said a damaged database file appeared to have caused the outage in the safety-alert system. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg promised a thorough examination to avoid another major failure.“Our immediate focus is technical — understanding exactly how this happened, why the redundancies and the backups that were build into the system were not able to prevent the level of disruption that we saw,” Buttigieg told reporters.Buttigieg said there was no indication that the outage was caused by a cyberattack but that officials would not rule that out until they know more.The FAA said late Thursday that a preliminary analysis showed the breakdown came after “a data file was damaged by personnel who failed to follow procedures.”The massive disruption was the latest black eye for the agency, which has traded blame with airlines over who has inconvenienced passengers more. Critics, including airline and tourism leaders, say agency technology is underfunded.“Investment is going to be required, no doubt,” American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told CNBC. “It’s going to be billions of dollars, and it’s not something that is done overnight.”United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has been critical of the FAA on a variety of issues, including staffing of air traffic controllers. He says the agency makes “a heroic effort” and does well most of the time but can be overwhelmed during busy travel times.“They need more investment for technology,” Kirby said at a U.S. Chamber of Commerce event in September. “They have been saying it."Rep. Rick Larsen of Washington state, the top Democrat on a House aviation subcommittee, said the outage shows the weakness of the FAA's technology and that the agency needs to make significant improvements.“It's one thing to get things up and going on the old software,” Larsen said in an interview. “It's another thing to invest in the new software platforms that are necessary to ensure this doesn't happen again.”Mike McCormick, a former FAA manager of airspace security who retired in 2017 after about 35 years at the agency, was more confident in FAA technology. He said the agency modernized computer systems over the past 15 years and is 95% up to date, having upgraded to next-generation satellite-based systems for navigation, flight tracking and communication.“Software, hardware, the final upgrades, were completed in the last three years, so now they’re actually working on the next generation beyond that and the enhancements to the systems,” said McCormick, who now teaches air-traffic management at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.The system that generates&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-federal-aviation-administration-business-9e277db75130cc7e4d4b6c6a7bdaad7c">NOTAMs — or Notice to Air Missions</a>&nbsp;— also was upgraded, but the outage happened as an engineer was working on the main system and the database somehow became corrupted, McCormick said, citing conversations with people at the FAA.When they switched to the backup system, its database also was corrupted, McCormick said. The system then had to be rebooted.“Things can still go wrong,” McCormick said. “You can still have human error, you can still have procedural errors, you can still have technological errors.”Michael Huerta, FAA administrator from 2013 to 2018, said the systems need to be updated constantly to keep up with technology. Nothing in the FAA system is so old that it's in danger of failing, he said, especially the system that tracks and communicates with planes.“The public should definitely be confident that the air traffic control system is safe,” he said.But the NOTAM system is about a decade old when systems reach the point where vendors don't support it or the platform that it runs on has been upgraded.“It's not a one-and-done type of event,” he said. “It's not very many years that go by before you have to upgrade it.”The outage came at a bad time for both the FAA and Buttigieg.The FAA is trying to repair its reputation after being widely criticized for the way it approved the Boeing 737 Max without fully understanding a flight-control system that malfunctioned and played a key role in two crashes that killed 346 people. The agency took a more hands-on approach when considering — and eventually improving — changes that Boeing made to get the plane back in the air.The meltdown at an agency overseen by the Transportation Department could also undercut Buttigieg’s moral authority to chastise airlines when they cancel or delay flights. He has gone after the airlines since last summer, most recently over disruptions at Southwest Airlines.Wednesday's breakdown showed how much American air travel depends on the computer system that generates NOTAMs.Before a plane takes off, pilots and airline dispatchers must review the notices, which include details about weather, runway closures or other temporary factors that could affect the flight. The system was once telephone-based but moved online years ago.Buttigieg said when the system broke down Tuesday night, a backup system went into effect. The FAA tried a complete reboot of the main system Wednesday morning, but that failed, leading the FAA to take the rare step of preventing planes from taking off.-------

US air travel returns to normal after technology breakdown

WEST HILLS, Calif. (AP) —Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and a singer-songwriter dedicated to her father’s legacy, died Thursday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-elvis-los-angeles-4cbc26cfe1a7bf0b41f21f0f0f6c677b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">being hospitalized for a medical emergency</a>. She was 54.

Her death in a Los Angeles hospital was confirmed by her mother, Priscilla, a few hours after her daughter was rushed to the hospital after having a medical emergency at home.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”

Presley, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, shared her father's brooding charisma — the hooded eyes, the insolent smile, the low, sultry voice — and followed him professionally, releasing her own rock albums in the 2000s, and appearing on stage with Pat Benatar and Richard Hawley among others.

She even formed direct musical ties with her father, joining her voice to such Elvis recordings as “In the Ghetto" and “Don't Cry Daddy," a mournful ballad which had reminded him of the early death of his mother (and Lisa Marie's grandmother), Gladys Presley.

“It’s been all my life," she told The Associated Press in 2012, speaking of her father's influence. “It’s not something that I now listen to and it’s different. Although I might listen closer. I remain consistent on the fact that I’ve always been an admirer. He’s always influenced me.”

Her birth, nine months exactly after her parents' wedding, was international news and her background was rarely far from her mind. With the release last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-politics-entertainment-travel-f0701fa8575090d933af97a35df759d2">Baz Luhrmann's</a>&nbsp;major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elvis-movie-review-b18e59c1b13c603e0fdd55adcea53f4d">musical feature “Elvis,”</a>&nbsp;Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley had been attending red carpets and award shows alongside stars from the film.

She was at the Golden Globes on Tuesday, on hand to celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">Austin Butler's award</a>&nbsp;for playing her father. Just days before, she was in Memphis at Graceland — the mansion where Elvis lived, and died — on Jan. 8 to celebrate her father's birth anniversary.

Presley lived with her mother, an actor known for “Dallas" and the “Naked Gun" movies, in California after her parents split up in 1973. She recalled early memories of her dad during her visits to Graceland, riding golf carts through the neighborhood and seeing his daily entrances down the stairs.

“He was always fully, fully geared up. You’d never see him in his pajamas coming down the steps, ever,” she told The Associated Press in 2012. “You’d never see him in anything but 'ready to be seen’ attire.”

Elvis Presley died in August 1977, when he was just 42, and she 9 years old. Lisa Marie was staying at Graceland at the time and would recall him kissing her goodnight hours before he would collapse and never recover. When she next saw him, the following day, he was lying face down in the bathroom.

“I just had a feeling," she told Rolling Stone in 2003. “He wasn't doing well. All I know is I had it (a feeling), and it happened. I was obsessed with death at a very early age."

She would later make headlines of her own. Struggles with drugs and some very public marriages. Her four husbands included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf12b086ebd9c32f2bc6d16befe7b142">Michael Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Nicolas Cage.

Jackson and Presley were married in the Dominican Republic in 1994, but the marriage ended two years later and was defined by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6c75bbc78ed93c77f3494394c5d5de70">numerous awkward public appearances</a>, including an unexpected kiss from Jackson during the MTV Video Music Awards and a joint interview with Diane Sawyer when she defended her husband against allegations he had sexually abused a minor.

Her other celebrity marriage was even shorter: Cage filed for divorce after four months of marriage in 2002.

“I had to sort of run into many walls and trees," she told the AP in 2012. “But now I can also look back at it and tell you all the stuff that was going on around me and all the different people around me and all the awww — and it was not a good situation anyway. That wasn’t helping. Either way, it was a growing process. It was just in a different way. It was just out in front of everybody all the time. Because it’s all documented of course.”

Lisa Marie became involved in numerous humanitarian causes, from anti-poverty programs administered through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She would receive formal citations from New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee for her work.

Presley had two children, actor Riley Keough, born in 1989, and Benjamin Keough, born in 1992, with her former husband Danny Keough. She also had twin daughters, Harper and Finley Lockwood, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03104a9d504640eca8d197d9b4a62ea6">ex-husband Michael Lockwood</a>&nbsp;in 2008.

Her marriage to Lockwood would end in a combative and protracted divorce that began in 2016 and still was not resolved when she died, though they were declared single in 2021. The fight saw the girls, now 15, put temporarily in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ce2e6f9b1b747eb909a7e9617a1f33a">protective custody</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Presley and Lockwood later had joint custody, but were still at odds over the issue, with Lockwood seeking more child support from Presley.

WEST HILLS, Calif. (AP) —Lisa Marie Presley, the only child of Elvis Presley and a singer-songwriter dedicated to her father’s legacy, died Thursday after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-lisa-marie-presley-priscilla-elvis-los-angeles-4cbc26cfe1a7bf0b41f21f0f0f6c677b?utm_source=homepage&amp;utm_medium=TopNews&amp;utm_campaign=position_02">being hospitalized for a medical emergency</a>. She was 54.Her death in a Los Angeles hospital was confirmed by her mother, Priscilla, a few hours after her daughter was rushed to the hospital after having a medical emergency at home.“It is with a heavy heart that I must share the devastating news that my beautiful daughter Lisa Marie has left us,” Priscilla Presley said in a statement. “She was the most passionate, strong and loving woman I have ever known.”Presley, the only child of Elvis and Priscilla Presley, shared her father's brooding charisma — the hooded eyes, the insolent smile, the low, sultry voice — and followed him professionally, releasing her own rock albums in the 2000s, and appearing on stage with Pat Benatar and Richard Hawley among others.She even formed direct musical ties with her father, joining her voice to such Elvis recordings as “In the Ghetto" and “Don't Cry Daddy," a mournful ballad which had reminded him of the early death of his mother (and Lisa Marie's grandmother), Gladys Presley.“It’s been all my life," she told The Associated Press in 2012, speaking of her father's influence. “It’s not something that I now listen to and it’s different. Although I might listen closer. I remain consistent on the fact that I’ve always been an admirer. He’s always influenced me.”Her birth, nine months exactly after her parents' wedding, was international news and her background was rarely far from her mind. With the release last year of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cannes-film-festival-politics-entertainment-travel-f0701fa8575090d933af97a35df759d2">Baz Luhrmann's</a>&nbsp;major&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elvis-movie-review-b18e59c1b13c603e0fdd55adcea53f4d">musical feature “Elvis,”</a>&nbsp;Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley had been attending red carpets and award shows alongside stars from the film.She was at the Golden Globes on Tuesday, on hand to celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">Austin Butler's award</a>&nbsp;for playing her father. Just days before, she was in Memphis at Graceland — the mansion where Elvis lived, and died — on Jan. 8 to celebrate her father's birth anniversary.Presley lived with her mother, an actor known for “Dallas" and the “Naked Gun" movies, in California after her parents split up in 1973. She recalled early memories of her dad during her visits to Graceland, riding golf carts through the neighborhood and seeing his daily entrances down the stairs.“He was always fully, fully geared up. You’d never see him in his pajamas coming down the steps, ever,” she told The Associated Press in 2012. “You’d never see him in anything but 'ready to be seen’ attire.”Elvis Presley died in August 1977, when he was just 42, and she 9 years old. Lisa Marie was staying at Graceland at the time and would recall him kissing her goodnight hours before he would collapse and never recover. When she next saw him, the following day, he was lying face down in the bathroom.“I just had a feeling," she told Rolling Stone in 2003. “He wasn't doing well. All I know is I had it (a feeling), and it happened. I was obsessed with death at a very early age."She would later make headlines of her own. Struggles with drugs and some very public marriages. Her four husbands included&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cf12b086ebd9c32f2bc6d16befe7b142">Michael Jackson</a>&nbsp;and Nicolas Cage.Jackson and Presley were married in the Dominican Republic in 1994, but the marriage ended two years later and was defined by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6c75bbc78ed93c77f3494394c5d5de70">numerous awkward public appearances</a>, including an unexpected kiss from Jackson during the MTV Video Music Awards and a joint interview with Diane Sawyer when she defended her husband against allegations he had sexually abused a minor.Her other celebrity marriage was even shorter: Cage filed for divorce after four months of marriage in 2002.“I had to sort of run into many walls and trees," she told the AP in 2012. “But now I can also look back at it and tell you all the stuff that was going on around me and all the different people around me and all the awww — and it was not a good situation anyway. That wasn’t helping. Either way, it was a growing process. It was just in a different way. It was just out in front of everybody all the time. Because it’s all documented of course.”Lisa Marie became involved in numerous humanitarian causes, from anti-poverty programs administered through the Elvis Presley Charitable Foundation to relief efforts after Hurricane Katrina. She would receive formal citations from New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee for her work.Presley had two children, actor Riley Keough, born in 1989, and Benjamin Keough, born in 1992, with her former husband Danny Keough. She also had twin daughters, Harper and Finley Lockwood, with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/03104a9d504640eca8d197d9b4a62ea6">ex-husband Michael Lockwood</a>&nbsp;in 2008.Her marriage to Lockwood would end in a combative and protracted divorce that began in 2016 and still was not resolved when she died, though they were declared single in 2021. The fight saw the girls, now 15, put temporarily in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/1ce2e6f9b1b747eb909a7e9617a1f33a">protective custody</a>&nbsp;in 2017. Presley and Lockwood later had joint custody, but were still at odds over the issue, with Lockwood seeking more child support from Presley.Benjamin Keough&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-news-ap-top-news-ca-state-wire-danny-keough-music-77998ac9b00390de449443dcdde2f840">died by suicide in 2020</a>&nbsp;at 27. Presley was vocal about her grief, writing in an essay last August that she had “been living in the horrific reality of its unrelenting grips since my son’s death two years ago.”“I’ve dealt with death, grief and loss since the age of 9 years old. I’ve had more than anyone’s fair share of it in my lifetime and somehow, I’ve made it this far,” she wrote in an essay shared with People magazine.“But this one, the death of my beautiful, beautiful son? The sweetest and most incredible being that I have ever had the privilege of knowing, who made me feel so honored every single day to be his mother? Who was so much like his grandfather on so many levels that he actually scared me? Which made me worry about him even more than I naturally would have?" the essay continued. "No. Just no ... no no no no ...”Lisa Marie became the sole heir of the Elvis Presley Trust after her father died. Along with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/6d24f34fe8a84258abe9630a7b15a21b">Elvis Presley Enterprises,</a>&nbsp;the trust managed Graceland and other assets until she sold her majority interest in 2005. She retained ownership of Graceland Mansion itself, the 13 acres around it and items inside the home. Her son is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/lisa-marie-presley-california-travel-elvis-presley-memphis-bd0032e7758187cfbd0117d6416cd109">buried there, along with her father</a>&nbsp;and other members of the Presley family.Lisa Marie Presley is a former Scientologist — her son was born in 1992 under guidelines set by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard,&nbsp;<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/%E2%80%B3The%20baby%20was%20delivered%20naturally%20and%20in%20complete%20silence%20in%20a%20calm%20and%20supportive%20environment%E2%80%B3%20under%20guidelines%20set%20out%20by%20the%20Church%20of%20Scientology%E2%80%99s%20founder,%20L.%20Ron%20Hubbard,%20in%20his%20book%20%E2%80%B3Dianetics,%E2%80%B3%20Bloch%20said.%20ADVERTISEMENT%20ADVERTISING%20%E2%80%B3The%20book%20states%20that%20whatever%20is%20said%20at%20birth%20can%20affect%20the%20child%E2%80%99s%20mental%20health%20in%20later%20life,%E2%80%B3%20the%20spokesman%20said.">according to an AP story at the time</a>&nbsp;— but later&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvey-weinstein-entertainment-paul-haggis-danny-masterson-kevin-spacey-e0be56c71bab5282e21bea0c92604e5a">broke with Scientology.</a>Lisa Marie and Priscilla Presley&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/9067ed77fe79caf85cf6bc7f473d3440">would make regular trips to Graceland</a>&nbsp;during&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/0bdb61563b5b4e74a6503baa08f6124a">huge fan celebrations</a>&nbsp;on the anniversaries of Elvis' death and birthday. One of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ae5d6f3780df4114a9174d7d45b73226">the two airplanes at Graceland</a>&nbsp;is named the Lisa Marie.After her first album “To Whom It May Concern,” in 2003, some fans came out to see her perform just out of curiosity given her famous family, she told the AP in 2005.“First I had to overcome a pre-speculated idea of me,” she said of the barriers to becoming a singer-songwriter.“I had to sort of burst through that and introduce myself, and that was the first hurdle, and then now sing in front of everybody, and then that was the second one, and I’m the offspring of — you know, who I’m the offspring of — I had a few hurdles to get through, no doubt about it," she continued. “But the scales never tipped in the other direction too much.”----