WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats voted Friday to remove Iowa as the leadoff state on the presidential nominating calendar and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to better reflect the party’s deeply diverse electorate.

The Democratic National Committee's rule-making arm made the move to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-f1d330309665d8041f0e0f3070b2e331">strip Iowa</a>&nbsp;from the position it has held for five decades after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ee095683c85f6c97e51b6589b412f674">technical meltdowns sparked chaos</a>&nbsp;and marred results of the state's 2020 caucus. The change also comes after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-government-and-politics-d73dd6455829d3ee8aee65ab83fd8ef9">long push</a>&nbsp;by some of the party's top leaders to start choosing a president in states that are less white, especially given the importance of Black voters as Democrats' most loyal electoral base.

Discussion on prioritizing diversity drew such impassioned reaction at the committee gathering in Washington that DNC chair Jaime Harrison wiped away tears as committee member Donna Brazile suggested that Democrats had spent years failing to fight for Black voters: “Do you know what it’s like to live on a dirt road? Do you know what it’s like to try to find running water that is clean?”

“Do you know what it’s like to wait and see if the storm is going to pass you by and your roof is still intact?” Brazile asked. “That’s what this is about.”

The committee approved moving South Carolina's primary to Feb. 3 and having Nevada and New Hampshire vote three days later. Georgia would go the following week and Michigan two weeks after that.

The move marks a dramatic shift from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-b4a270fdf437e9b072cf295953b841d2">the current calendar</a>, which has had Iowa holding the first-in-the-nation caucuses since 1972, followed by New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary since 1920. Nevada and South Carolina have gone next since the 2008 presidential election, when Democrats last did a major overhaul of their primary calendar.

The changes will still have to be approved by the full DNC in a vote likely early next year, but it will almost certainly follow the rule-making committee’s lead.

The revamped schedule could largely be moot for 2024 if Biden opts to seek a second term, but may remake Democratic presidential cycles after that. The president has said for months that he intends to run again, and White House aides have begun making staffing discussions for his likely reelection campaign, even though no final decision has been made.

The DNC also plans to revisit the primary calendar again before 2028 — meaning more changes could be coming before then.

Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-iowa-south-carolina-e738592ee088fa4ca5614ba501d63726">wrote in a letter to rules committee members</a>&nbsp;on Thursday that the party should scrap “restrictive” caucuses altogether because their rules on in-person participation can sometimes exclude working-class and other voters. He told also told party leaders privately that he'd like to see South Carolina go first to better ensure that voters of color aren't marginalized as Democrats choose a presidential nominee.

Four of the five states now poised to start the party's primary are presidential battlegrounds, meaning the eventual Democratic winner would be able to lay groundwork in important general election locales. That's especially true for Michigan and Georgia, which both voted for Donald Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020. The exception is South Carolina, which hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential race since 1976.

The first five voting states would be positioned to cast ballots before Super Tuesday, the day when much of the rest of the country holds primaries. That gives the early states outsize influence since White House hopefuls struggling to raise money or gain political traction often drop out before visiting much of the rest of the country.

Scott Brennan, a rules committee member from Iowa, said “small, rural states” like his “must have a voice in the presidential nominating process.”

“Democrats cannot forget about entire groups of voters in the heart of the Midwest without doing significant damage to the party in newer generations," Brennan said.

The Republican National Committee has already decided to keep Iowa’s caucus as the first contest in its 2024 presidential primary, ensuring that GOP White House hopefuls —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">which include Trump</a>&nbsp;— have continued to frequently campaign there.

House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s lone congressional Democrat and one of Biden’s top supporters in Congress, said the president called him Thursday to inform him of his push to move his state up.

“I didn’t ask to be first," Clyburn said. "It was his idea to be first.”

Clyburn's endorsement of Biden in 2020 boosted the candidate's flagging presidential campaign just ahead of South Carolina’s primary, which he won big. That helped Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-in-state-wire-election-2020-ma-state-wire-joe-biden-b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a">shake off early losses</a>&nbsp;in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada and eventually take the White House.

“He knows what South Carolina did for him, and he’s demonstrated that time and time again, by giving respect to South Carolina,” Clyburn said.

Still, the vote by the rules committee has faced serious pushback, with some states vowing to ignore the changes altogether. That's despite the panel approving language saying states could lose all of their delegates to the party's national convention if they attempt to violate new rules.

Iowa and New Hampshire have said laws in their states mandate them going before others, and they intend to abide by those, not DNC decrees. Only committee members from Iowa and New Hampshire objected to the proposal that passed Friday, with everyone else supporting it.

Nevada, with its heavily Hispanic population, initially balked at sharing the second-place slot with New Hampshire, a state 2,500 miles away. Nevada committee member Artie Blanco’s voice cracked as she argued against the change.

“If we want to build a strong relationship with Latinos,” Blanco said, “then Nevada must stand alone on a date and not have to share that date.”

After more discussion, Blanco said later that she would support the new calendar. It was “not ideal” for her state to go the same day as another, she said, but “we accept what the will of the president is.”

Harrison said the new slate of five early voting states will need to show they are working toward moving their primaries to those dates by early next year or risk losing their place. Some state legislatures set primary dates; others have their secretaries of state or the directors of their state parties do it.

The DNC chair choked up after the vote as he talked about South Carolina once having been the site of the first attack of the Civil War and now being in line to lead off his party’s primary.

“This proposal reflects the best of our party as a whole, and it will continue to make our party and our country stronger,” Harrison said.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has declared that Democrats should give up “restrictive” caucuses and prioritize diversity at the start of their presidential primary calendar — dealing a major blow to Iowa's decadeslong status as the state that leads off the process.

In a letter Thursday to the rule-making arm of the Democratic National Committee, Biden did not mention specific states he'd like to see go first. But he has told Democrats he wants South Carolina moved to the first position, according to three people familiar with his recommendation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.

The president's direction came as the DNC rules committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-iowa-323020f9b1ef8fc7dbaecbe3dcb3418d">gathered in Washington on Friday</a>&nbsp;to vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-f1d330309665d8041f0e0f3070b2e331">shaking up the presidential primary calendar starting in 2024</a>. Members now expect to approve new rules putting South Carolina first, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on the same day a week later.

Georgia and Michigan would move into the top five as new early states, and each would hold primaries in subsequent weeks, committee members say. The two battlegrounds were critical to Biden's 2020 victory over then-President Donald Trump, who had won both states in his 2016 White House campaign.

Much of the rest of the country would vote as part of Super Tuesday soon afterward.

Such changes are set to come after years of calls from many top Democrats for the voting calendar to better reflect the party's deeply diverse base than mostly white Iowa, which holds the country's first caucus, and New Hampshire, which holds the first primary. The new calendar would still have to be approved by the full DNC in a vote likely to come early next year, but the DNC will almost certainly heed the rule-making panel's recommendations.

The proposed order of the early states was first reported by The Washington Post.

“For decades, Black voters in particular have been the backbone of the Democratic Party but have been pushed to the back of the early primary process," Biden wrote in a letter on personal stationery that did not carry the White House seal. “We rely on these voters in elections but have not recognized their importance in our nominating calendar. It is time to stop taking these voters for granted, and time to give them a louder and earlier voice in the process.”

He said caucuses were “restrictive and anti-worker” because they require voters “to spend significant amounts of time” on one night gathering to choose candidates in person, “disadvantaging hourly workers and anyone who does not have the flexibility to go to a set location at a set time.”

The changes could be implemented as soon as 2024 but would be rendered largely meaningless until 2028 if Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-5a8fd26a4a9ffa9b47c5de52fface72d">opts to seek a second term</a>. The president has said for months that he intends to run again, and White House aides and Biden allies have begun staffing and structural discussions for his likely 2024 bid while refraining from overt steps while the president weighs a final decision.

Such a shakeup would nonetheless be seismic given that Iowa’s caucus has led off the Democratic voting calendar since 1976. Still, it would come two years after a series of technical glitches&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ee095683c85f6c97e51b6589b412f674">so marred party results</a>&nbsp;that they prevented The Associated Press from declaring a 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus winner.

Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn said in a statement Thursday night that the state party intended to abide by Iowa law and hold its caucus first.

“Our state law requires us to hold a caucus before the last Tuesday in February, and before any other contest,” Wilburn said. "When we submit our delegate selection plan to the Rules and Bylaws Committee early next year, we will adhere to the State of Iowa’s legal requirements, and address compliance with DNC rules in subsequent meetings and hearings.”

New Hampshire state law calls for it to hold the first actual primary, and officials there have for months threatened to simply move up their election regardless of what new rules the DNC approves

On the current Democratic calendar, Iowa has been followed by New Hampshire, which has held the nation’s first primary since 1920. Nevada and South Carolina have gone next since the 2008 presidential election, when Democrats last did a major primary calendar overhaul.

The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has already decided to keep Iowa’s caucus as the first contest in its 2024 presidential calendar, ensuring that GOP White House hopefuls — which include Trump — will continue campaigning there frequently.

South Carolina holds special relevance to Biden.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-in-state-wire-election-2020-ma-state-wire-joe-biden-b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a">His victory</a>&nbsp;in the state's first-in-the-South primary in 2020 kickstarted his presidential campaign after poor finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire on his way to winning the Democratic nomination.

Dick Harpootlian, a longtime Biden ally, fundraiser and former South Carolina Democratic Party chair, said Thursday that he and Biden discussed South Carolina’s possible advancement the night of Biden’s 2020 primary victory there. Harpootlian said he’d impressed upon Biden that the state was a better place than Iowa to hold an even earlier presidential voting contest — to which Harpootlian said Biden was receptive.

“I think he agreed that this was a much more dynamic process,” Harpootlian said. “Iowa was just a nightmare.”

The DNC rules committee has been discussing reordering the early calendar for months, touching off a fierce battle among many states to go first. In a joint statement Thursday night, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell said, “We have always said that any road to the White House goes through the heartland and President Biden understands that.”

Several states have previously tried to violate party rules and jump closer to the front, only to be threatened with having their delegates not count.

New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen issued a statement blasting “the White House’s short-sighted decision,” while fellow New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan said, “I strongly oppose the President’s deeply misguided proposal."

“But make no mistake," Hassan said in a statement. “New Hampshire’s law is clear and our primary will continue to be first in the nation.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670001141259.png" alt="Joe Biden on the campaign trail in 2020-photo courtesy WZTV" />
 <figcaption>Joe Biden on the campaign trail in 2020-photo courtesy WZTV</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats voted Friday to remove Iowa as the leadoff state on the presidential nominating calendar and replace it with South Carolina starting in 2024, a dramatic shakeup championed by President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to better reflect the party’s deeply diverse electorate.The Democratic National Committee's rule-making arm made the move to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-f1d330309665d8041f0e0f3070b2e331">strip Iowa</a>&nbsp;from the position it has held for five decades after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ee095683c85f6c97e51b6589b412f674">technical meltdowns sparked chaos</a>&nbsp;and marred results of the state's 2020 caucus. The change also comes after a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-south-carolina-government-and-politics-d73dd6455829d3ee8aee65ab83fd8ef9">long push</a>&nbsp;by some of the party's top leaders to start choosing a president in states that are less white, especially given the importance of Black voters as Democrats' most loyal electoral base.Discussion on prioritizing diversity drew such impassioned reaction at the committee gathering in Washington that DNC chair Jaime Harrison wiped away tears as committee member Donna Brazile suggested that Democrats had spent years failing to fight for Black voters: “Do you know what it’s like to live on a dirt road? Do you know what it’s like to try to find running water that is clean?”“Do you know what it’s like to wait and see if the storm is going to pass you by and your roof is still intact?” Brazile asked. “That’s what this is about.”The committee approved moving South Carolina's primary to Feb. 3 and having Nevada and New Hampshire vote three days later. Georgia would go the following week and Michigan two weeks after that.The move marks a dramatic shift from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-b4a270fdf437e9b072cf295953b841d2">the current calendar</a>, which has had Iowa holding the first-in-the-nation caucuses since 1972, followed by New Hampshire's first-in-the-nation primary since 1920. Nevada and South Carolina have gone next since the 2008 presidential election, when Democrats last did a major overhaul of their primary calendar.The changes will still have to be approved by the full DNC in a vote likely early next year, but it will almost certainly follow the rule-making committee’s lead.The revamped schedule could largely be moot for 2024 if Biden opts to seek a second term, but may remake Democratic presidential cycles after that. The president has said for months that he intends to run again, and White House aides have begun making staffing discussions for his likely reelection campaign, even though no final decision has been made.The DNC also plans to revisit the primary calendar again before 2028 — meaning more changes could be coming before then.Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-iowa-south-carolina-e738592ee088fa4ca5614ba501d63726">wrote in a letter to rules committee members</a>&nbsp;on Thursday that the party should scrap “restrictive” caucuses altogether because their rules on in-person participation can sometimes exclude working-class and other voters. He told also told party leaders privately that he'd like to see South Carolina go first to better ensure that voters of color aren't marginalized as Democrats choose a presidential nominee.Four of the five states now poised to start the party's primary are presidential battlegrounds, meaning the eventual Democratic winner would be able to lay groundwork in important general election locales. That's especially true for Michigan and Georgia, which both voted for Donald Trump in 2016 before flipping to Biden in 2020. The exception is South Carolina, which hasn't gone Democratic in a presidential race since 1976.The first five voting states would be positioned to cast ballots before Super Tuesday, the day when much of the rest of the country holds primaries. That gives the early states outsize influence since White House hopefuls struggling to raise money or gain political traction often drop out before visiting much of the rest of the country.Scott Brennan, a rules committee member from Iowa, said “small, rural states” like his “must have a voice in the presidential nominating process.”“Democrats cannot forget about entire groups of voters in the heart of the Midwest without doing significant damage to the party in newer generations," Brennan said.The Republican National Committee has already decided to keep Iowa’s caucus as the first contest in its 2024 presidential primary, ensuring that GOP White House hopefuls —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-2024-updates-cd5339d48064a149527e8f9a1aa7614e">which include Trump</a>&nbsp;— have continued to frequently campaign there.House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, South Carolina’s lone congressional Democrat and one of Biden’s top supporters in Congress, said the president called him Thursday to inform him of his push to move his state up.“I didn’t ask to be first," Clyburn said. "It was his idea to be first.”Clyburn's endorsement of Biden in 2020 boosted the candidate's flagging presidential campaign just ahead of South Carolina’s primary, which he won big. That helped Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-in-state-wire-election-2020-ma-state-wire-joe-biden-b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a">shake off early losses</a>&nbsp;in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada and eventually take the White House.“He knows what South Carolina did for him, and he’s demonstrated that time and time again, by giving respect to South Carolina,” Clyburn said.Still, the vote by the rules committee has faced serious pushback, with some states vowing to ignore the changes altogether. That's despite the panel approving language saying states could lose all of their delegates to the party's national convention if they attempt to violate new rules.Iowa and New Hampshire have said laws in their states mandate them going before others, and they intend to abide by those, not DNC decrees. Only committee members from Iowa and New Hampshire objected to the proposal that passed Friday, with everyone else supporting it.Nevada, with its heavily Hispanic population, initially balked at sharing the second-place slot with New Hampshire, a state 2,500 miles away. Nevada committee member Artie Blanco’s voice cracked as she argued against the change.“If we want to build a strong relationship with Latinos,” Blanco said, “then Nevada must stand alone on a date and not have to share that date.”After more discussion, Blanco said later that she would support the new calendar. It was “not ideal” for her state to go the same day as another, she said, but “we accept what the will of the president is.”Harrison said the new slate of five early voting states will need to show they are working toward moving their primaries to those dates by early next year or risk losing their place. Some state legislatures set primary dates; others have their secretaries of state or the directors of their state parties do it.The DNC chair choked up after the vote as he talked about South Carolina once having been the site of the first attack of the Civil War and now being in line to lead off his party’s primary.“This proposal reflects the best of our party as a whole, and it will continue to make our party and our country stronger,” Harrison said.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;has declared that Democrats should give up “restrictive” caucuses and prioritize diversity at the start of their presidential primary calendar — dealing a major blow to Iowa's decadeslong status as the state that leads off the process.In a letter Thursday to the rule-making arm of the Democratic National Committee, Biden did not mention specific states he'd like to see go first. But he has told Democrats he wants South Carolina moved to the first position, according to three people familiar with his recommendation who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations.The president's direction came as the DNC rules committee&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-biden-iowa-323020f9b1ef8fc7dbaecbe3dcb3418d">gathered in Washington on Friday</a>&nbsp;to vote on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-nevada-presidential-race-and-ethnicity-iowa-f1d330309665d8041f0e0f3070b2e331">shaking up the presidential primary calendar starting in 2024</a>. Members now expect to approve new rules putting South Carolina first, followed by New Hampshire and Nevada on the same day a week later.Georgia and Michigan would move into the top five as new early states, and each would hold primaries in subsequent weeks, committee members say. The two battlegrounds were critical to Biden's 2020 victory over then-President Donald Trump, who had won both states in his 2016 White House campaign.Much of the rest of the country would vote as part of Super Tuesday soon afterward.Such changes are set to come after years of calls from many top Democrats for the voting calendar to better reflect the party's deeply diverse base than mostly white Iowa, which holds the country's first caucus, and New Hampshire, which holds the first primary. The new calendar would still have to be approved by the full DNC in a vote likely to come early next year, but the DNC will almost certainly heed the rule-making panel's recommendations.The proposed order of the early states was first reported by The Washington Post.“For decades, Black voters in particular have been the backbone of the Democratic Party but have been pushed to the back of the early primary process," Biden wrote in a letter on personal stationery that did not carry the White House seal. “We rely on these voters in elections but have not recognized their importance in our nominating calendar. It is time to stop taking these voters for granted, and time to give them a louder and earlier voice in the process.”He said caucuses were “restrictive and anti-worker” because they require voters “to spend significant amounts of time” on one night gathering to choose candidates in person, “disadvantaging hourly workers and anyone who does not have the flexibility to go to a set location at a set time.”The changes could be implemented as soon as 2024 but would be rendered largely meaningless until 2028 if Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-5a8fd26a4a9ffa9b47c5de52fface72d">opts to seek a second term</a>. The president has said for months that he intends to run again, and White House aides and Biden allies have begun staffing and structural discussions for his likely 2024 bid while refraining from overt steps while the president weighs a final decision.Such a shakeup would nonetheless be seismic given that Iowa’s caucus has led off the Democratic voting calendar since 1976. Still, it would come two years after a series of technical glitches&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ee095683c85f6c97e51b6589b412f674">so marred party results</a>&nbsp;that they prevented The Associated Press from declaring a 2020 Iowa Democratic caucus winner.Iowa Democratic Party Chair Ross Wilburn said in a statement Thursday night that the state party intended to abide by Iowa law and hold its caucus first.“Our state law requires us to hold a caucus before the last Tuesday in February, and before any other contest,” Wilburn said. "When we submit our delegate selection plan to the Rules and Bylaws Committee early next year, we will adhere to the State of Iowa’s legal requirements, and address compliance with DNC rules in subsequent meetings and hearings.”New Hampshire state law calls for it to hold the first actual primary, and officials there have for months threatened to simply move up their election regardless of what new rules the DNC approvesOn the current Democratic calendar, Iowa has been followed by New Hampshire, which has held the nation’s first primary since 1920. Nevada and South Carolina have gone next since the 2008 presidential election, when Democrats last did a major primary calendar overhaul.The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has already decided to keep Iowa’s caucus as the first contest in its 2024 presidential calendar, ensuring that GOP White House hopefuls — which include Trump — will continue campaigning there frequently.South Carolina holds special relevance to Biden.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-in-state-wire-election-2020-ma-state-wire-joe-biden-b9872b58b495fd17044f359338ab3f2a">His victory</a>&nbsp;in the state's first-in-the-South primary in 2020 kickstarted his presidential campaign after poor finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire on his way to winning the Democratic nomination.Dick Harpootlian, a longtime Biden ally, fundraiser and former South Carolina Democratic Party chair, said Thursday that he and Biden discussed South Carolina’s possible advancement the night of Biden’s 2020 primary victory there. Harpootlian said he’d impressed upon Biden that the state was a better place than Iowa to hold an even earlier presidential voting contest — to which Harpootlian said Biden was receptive.“I think he agreed that this was a much more dynamic process,” Harpootlian said. “Iowa was just a nightmare.”The DNC rules committee has been discussing reordering the early calendar for months, touching off a fierce battle among many states to go first. In a joint statement Thursday night, Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes and U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell said, “We have always said that any road to the White House goes through the heartland and President Biden understands that.”Several states have previously tried to violate party rules and jump closer to the front, only to be threatened with having their delegates not count.New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen issued a statement blasting “the White House’s short-sighted decision,” while fellow New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Maggie Hassan said, “I strongly oppose the President’s deeply misguided proposal."“But make no mistake," Hassan said in a statement. “New Hampshire’s law is clear and our primary will continue to be first in the nation.”

Biden, Dems make dramatic change to presidential primary calendar

Acting United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bruce A. Quinn, 66, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today for Interference with Federally Protected Activities, a civil rights violation. United States District Court Magistrate Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Quinn to four months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release.&nbsp; Quinn previously pleaded guilty to this charge on September 7, 2022.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 18, 2020, Keith Kirksey, a 63-year-old black man employed by the Oriental Trading Company in La Vista, Nebraska, arrived for his shift and went to an industrial floor scrubber. Kirksey discovered that an 8-to-12-inch piece of orange twine, deliberately twisted and knotted into the shape of a noose, had been left on the seat of the equipment. Kirksey was the only black employee trained to use the scrubber. Kirksey was extremely distraught by the small noose; he was crying and shaking, and he later told investigators that he was scared by the noose, believing it to be a death threat directed at him.

“Federal courts have long recognized the&nbsp;noose&nbsp;as one of the most vile symbols in American history”, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Individuals, like this defendant, who use a noose to convey a threat of violence at a workplace will be held accountable for their actions.”&nbsp;

After the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowal said, “Bruce Quinn used an ugly historical symbol to intimidate a co-worker.&nbsp; This case highlights the FBI’s mission to aggressively investigate civil rights crimes and bring to justice those who victimize someone because of the color of their skin.”

“We are grateful for Sgt. Matt Barrall’s efforts to identify the suspect and his collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office which brought a successful conclusion to the case,” said Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis.

Acting U.S. Attorney Russell added, “I appreciate the excellent work of the investigators from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is a serious matter and their efforts, along with my staff and the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, brought justice for the victim of this criminal act.” &nbsp;

This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Lecia Wright and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574122756866.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By UNITED STATES ATTORNEY-OMAHAActing United States Attorney Steven Russell announced that Bruce A. Quinn, 66, of Omaha, Nebraska, was sentenced today for Interference with Federally Protected Activities, a civil rights violation. United States District Court Magistrate Judge Susan M. Bazis sentenced Quinn to four months’ imprisonment and one year of supervised release.&nbsp; Quinn previously pleaded guilty to this charge on September 7, 2022.According to court documents and statements made in court, on June 18, 2020, Keith Kirksey, a 63-year-old black man employed by the Oriental Trading Company in La Vista, Nebraska, arrived for his shift and went to an industrial floor scrubber. Kirksey discovered that an 8-to-12-inch piece of orange twine, deliberately twisted and knotted into the shape of a noose, had been left on the seat of the equipment. Kirksey was the only black employee trained to use the scrubber. Kirksey was extremely distraught by the small noose; he was crying and shaking, and he later told investigators that he was scared by the noose, believing it to be a death threat directed at him.“Federal courts have long recognized the&nbsp;noose&nbsp;as one of the most vile symbols in American history”, said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Individuals, like this defendant, who use a noose to convey a threat of violence at a workplace will be held accountable for their actions.”&nbsp;After the sentencing, FBI Omaha Special Agent in Charge Eugene Kowal said, “Bruce Quinn used an ugly historical symbol to intimidate a co-worker.&nbsp; This case highlights the FBI’s mission to aggressively investigate civil rights crimes and bring to justice those who victimize someone because of the color of their skin.”“We are grateful for Sgt. Matt Barrall’s efforts to identify the suspect and his collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office which brought a successful conclusion to the case,” said Sarpy County Sheriff Jeff Davis.Acting U.S. Attorney Russell added, “I appreciate the excellent work of the investigators from the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This is a serious matter and their efforts, along with my staff and the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ, brought justice for the victim of this criminal act.” &nbsp;This case was investigated by the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.&nbsp; Assistant U.S. Attorney Lecia Wright and Trial Attorney Cameron Bell of the Civil Rights Division prosecuted the case.

Omaha man sentenced for leaving noose on co-worker's equipment

SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Friday identified the man who died Thursday morning in an officer-involved shooting in Topeka as 28-year-old Dylan Walstrom of Topeka who had a long history of crime.

He died after he was shot during a violent struggle with an officer from the Topeka Police Department.

Preliminary information indicates that just before 7a.m..officer from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) observed a vehicle that appeared suspicious because it was parked in the center of an alleyway southeast of the intersection of 20th&nbsp;St. and SW Lincoln St. Dispatch indicated the car, which was occupied by a male subject, had been reported stolen, according to a media release from the KBI.

The officer approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side. He gave several verbal commands to the male driver later identified as Walstrom that were not followed. 

Then Walstrom opened the driver’s side door, and the officer met him on that side of the car. Walstrom was armed with a handgun and a close struggle ensued. During the struggle the officer fired multiple rounds striking Walstrom.&nbsp; Walstrom fired one round that did not hit the officer.

Walstrom was pronounced dead at the scene. The TPD officer was uninjured during the incident.&nbsp;Per policy, the Topeka officer has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

Walstrom had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, evade a road block, interference with law enforcement, flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, falsely reported a crime and for drugs. He had been out of prison since November of 2020, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.

SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday morning in Topeka.

The officer approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side. He gave several verbal commands to the male driver that were not followed. Then the man opened the driver’s side door, and the officer met him on that side of the car. The man was armed with a handgun and a close struggle ensued. During the struggle the officer fired multiple rounds striking the male subject. The man fired one round that did not hit the officer.

Shots were fired at approximately 6:50 a.m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The TPD officer was uninjured during the incident.

SHAWNEE COUNTY —One man is dead following a Kansas officer-involved shooting.

Just before 7a.m. Thursday, a police officer initiated a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle occupied by one suspect in the east alley of the 2000 block of SW Lincoln Street in Topeka, according to a media release.

During the traffic stop, the suspect displayed a gun. The officer, in fear for their life, fired their gun, striking the suspect.&nbsp; The officer was not injured.

The male suspect was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation. Per policy, the Topeka officer has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669909106621.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY –&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Friday identified the man who died Thursday morning in an officer-involved shooting in Topeka as 28-year-old Dylan Walstrom of Topeka who had a long history of crime.He died after he was shot during a violent struggle with an officer from the Topeka Police Department.Preliminary information indicates that just before 7a.m..officer from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) observed a vehicle that appeared suspicious because it was parked in the center of an alleyway southeast of the intersection of 20th&nbsp;St. and SW Lincoln St. Dispatch indicated the car, which was occupied by a male subject, had been reported stolen, according to a media release from the KBI.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1670002088213.png" alt="Walstrom had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, evade a road block, interference with law enforcement, flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, falsely reported a crime and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections -photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Walstrom had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, evade a road block, interference with law enforcement, flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, falsely reported a crime and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections -photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>The officer approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side. He gave several verbal commands to the male driver later identified as Walstrom that were not followed. Then Walstrom opened the driver’s side door, and the officer met him on that side of the car. Walstrom was armed with a handgun and a close struggle ensued. During the struggle the officer fired multiple rounds striking Walstrom.&nbsp; Walstrom fired one round that did not hit the officer.Walstrom was pronounced dead at the scene. The TPD officer was uninjured during the incident.&nbsp;Per policy, the Topeka officer has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.Walstrom had previous convictions for theft, obstruction, evade a road block, interference with law enforcement, flee or attempted to elude law enforcement, falsely reported a crime and for drugs. He had been out of prison since November of 2020, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections.------SHAWNEE COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Thursday morning in Topeka.Preliminary information indicates that just before 7a.m..officer from the Topeka Police Department (TPD) observed a vehicle that appeared suspicious because it was parked in the center of an alleyway southeast of the intersection of 20th&nbsp;St. and SW Lincoln St. Dispatch indicated the car, which was occupied by a male subject, had been reported stolen, according to a media release from the KBI.The officer approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side. He gave several verbal commands to the male driver that were not followed. Then the man opened the driver’s side door, and the officer met him on that side of the car. The man was armed with a handgun and a close struggle ensued. During the struggle the officer fired multiple rounds striking the male subject. The man fired one round that did not hit the officer.Shots were fired at approximately 6:50 a.m. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The TPD officer was uninjured during the incident.---------SHAWNEE COUNTY —One man is dead following a Kansas officer-involved shooting.Just before 7a.m. Thursday, a police officer initiated a traffic stop on a stolen vehicle occupied by one suspect in the east alley of the 2000 block of SW Lincoln Street in Topeka, according to a media release.During the traffic stop, the suspect displayed a gun. The officer, in fear for their life, fired their gun, striking the suspect.&nbsp; The officer was not injured.The male suspect was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.&nbsp;The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is in charge of the investigation. Per policy, the Topeka officer has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated.

Man who died in Kan. officer shooting had long history of crime

By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/29/albertsons-kroger-mega-deal-raises-questions-from-lawmakers-about-higher-food-prices/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — Members of a U.S. Senate
 Judiciary Committee panel raised concerns during a hearing this week that
 a proposed merger between two of the largest U.S. supermarket chains 
could mean a monopoly on groceries and lead to higher food prices for 
Americans.

<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?524439-1/hearing-merger-kroger-albertsons-grocery-store-chains&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> a replay of the hearing

U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who chairs the Subcommittee
 on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, along with the 
top Republican on the panel, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, grilled the CEOs of 
the Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, and Albertsons Companies Inc., based in Boise, Idaho. The two companies are attempting to merge.&nbsp;

“Over the last decade, the grocery 
industry has become increasingly consolidated, with the top four chains 
now making up more than two-thirds of all grocery sales,” Klobuchar 
said. “A lack of competition in the industry means higher prices and 
lower quality.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

After Kroger announced a $24.6 
billion proposed purchase of its rival Albertsons last month, Klobuchar 
and Lee announced they planned to convene a hearing on the merger, 
citing concerns about already high food prices due to inflation, and 
their worry that a potential merger could worsen the problem.

Another concern senators expressed 
was layoffs and store closures that could follow the merger. Sen. Josh 
Hawley, a Missouri Republican, pressed Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen on how
 many workers would be laid off if the two companies merged.&nbsp;

McMullen said Kroger had no plans to 
lay off workers or close stories and pointed to a previous acquisition 
of Harris Teeter in 2014 where there were no layoffs or store closures.

“We’ve ended up not laying off anybody because what we found is that merged companies do things better than we do,” he said.

Congress would not be able to stop 
the merger, as those dealings are reviewed by the Federal Trade 
Commission and the Justice Department. It would likely take until 2024 
to complete the merger. If deemed necessary, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/merger-review">the FTC can take legal proceedings</a> to stop mergers, either in federal courts or before an FTC administrative law judge.

Kroger leaders have argued that the 
deal will help them compete with top grocery retailers like Walmart and 
online behemoths like Amazon. Walmart controls about 21% of the grocery 
market share, followed by Kroger at 10% and Costco at 7%, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/profile-of-amazons-new-retail-ceo-doug-herrington-2022-7">according to Business Insider</a>. Albertsons controls about 5.8% of the grocery market share.&nbsp;

Albertsons is the second-largest 
supermarket company, owning 2,300 stores and employing 290,000 people. 
Kroger is the largest supermarket operator in the U.S., with more than 
2,700 stores and 450,000 employees and owns other supermarket chains 
like Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and Ralphs.

Labor unions have also raised 
concerns. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 
which represents more than 1 million grocery workers, said in a 
statement following the hearing that Kroger and Albertsons have not been
 transparent about wages, jobs and benefits for workers.&nbsp;

“Now, more than ever, Kroger and 
Albertsons executives must provide the answers and information needed to
 address the serious concerns our members and the American people have 
about this proposed merger,” according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/ufcw-international-union-statement-on-senate-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing-on-proposed-kroger-albertsons-merger/">statement</a>.&nbsp;

Klobuchar and Lee wrote a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2/b/2b61dbcf-3bb9-49d2-a8e9-3622b1c1f9a9/7A05803C37BA9F78A1B037066B860D13.quill---letter-l7137---letter-to-ftc-chair-khan-re-albertsons-kroger-merger-002-.pdf"> joint letter </a>to
 Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, asking for her assurance that
 the commission will thoroughly investigate the merger.&nbsp;

They asked the agency to include 
findings from its investigation last fall “into grocery prices and the 
availability of food products, sending data requests to a number of 
companies, including Kroger,” in its proposed analysis of the new 
merger.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/">According to the Consumer Price Index</a>,
 food-at-home, such as grocery store or supermarket food purchases, 
increased 0.5% from September to October and was 12.4% higher than 
October of last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Klobuchar and Sen. Alex Padilla, a 
California Democrat, grilled McMullen on how he expected Kroger to keep 
its grocery prices low if the company took out its biggest competitor, 
Albertsons, arguing that Kroger would not have an incentive to keep 
prices low without competition.&nbsp;

“I just don’t see less competition 
going forward,” McMullen said, adding that his company would still 
compete with Costco, Walmart and Amazon.

Sumit Sharma, a senior researcher of technology competition at Consumer Reports, disagreed with that assessment.&nbsp;

“The most likely outcome is increased
 prices, fewer choices for consumers, and reduced supermarket access for
 some consumers,” he said.

Padilla said that in California alone
 there are several areas where Albertsons and Kroger are the only 
supermarkets and if this merger goes through, his constituents will only
 have one option to do their food shopping.

“That’s the concern,” he said. “With less competition, prices go up.”&nbsp;

Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas 
Republican, did not ask questions about the implications of the merger 
for food prices and instead took issue with the uniform that Kroger 
employees wear, which is an apron.&nbsp;

He cited a religious discrimination <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/31/kroger-rainbow-patch-case-settlement-announced/69605961007/">lawsuit</a>
 that Kroger recently settled in late October, in which the store paid 
$180,000 to employees who were fired months after they were given new 
apron uniforms displaying a heart patch with rainbow colors.&nbsp;

The former employees interpreted the 
aprons as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and said the aprons 
violated their religious beliefs.&nbsp;

“If this merger goes through, who’s going to be making decisions about uniforms?” Cotton asked.&nbsp;

McMullen said that uniforms are put together by an associate resource group that designs them.&nbsp;

“The heart is a symbol of our 
fundamental purpose … to be in community spirit,” McMullen said about 
the patch. “And part of being the human spirit is the heart and that 
heart is our fundamental strategy to support our purpose. The colors 
were not tied to any specific thing.”

Klobuchar and Lee said they were 
skeptical the merger would not increase food prices, following what 
happened in a 2015 merger between Albertsons and Safeway.

In 2015, as part of that merger, Albertsons had to participate in a divestiture and was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2015/01/ftc-requires-albertsons-safeway-sell-168-stores-condition-merger">required to sell 168</a> stores before it was allowed to merge with Safeway, per an order by the FTC.

Haggen bought most of the Albertsons stores, but in less than a year, the company filed for bankruptcy and Albertsons <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2015/09/ftc-approves-application-modification-divestiture-agreement-between-albertsons-haggen-holdings-llc">ended up buying back most of the stores.</a>&nbsp;

“I think this weighs heavily on the 
minds of a lot of people who have concerns about this agreement, just 
looking at the immediate past and what happened,” Klobuchar said.

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson <a target="_blank" href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/Complaint_FINAL.pdf">filed a lawsuit </a>earlier
 this month to block Albertsons from giving its shareholders a $4 
billion dividend payout before the proposed merger with Kroger until the
 merger can be reviewed by state and federal antitrust officials.&nbsp;

Ferguson argued that the $4 billion 
dividend payments exceeded what Albertsons had on hand, which according 
to SEC filings was $2.5 billion. Albertsons was prepared to borrow the 
rest for the dividend payments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

By reducing Albertsons’ cash on hand,
 Ferguson argued, it would make it difficult for Albertsons to keep up 
with inventory orders, “forcing customers to go to other grocery stores 
when shelves are not stocked with the products they seek,” and that less
 “inventory to stock could also impact employee hours.”

“Paying out $4 billion before 
regulators can do their job and review the proposed merger will weaken 
Albertsons’ ability to continue business operations and compete,” 
Ferguson said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-files-lawsuit-block-albertsons-paying-4-billion-shareholders-merger">statement</a>.
 “Free enterprise is built on companies competing, and that competition 
benefits consumers. Corporations proposing a merger cannot sabotage 
their ability to compete while that merger is under review.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

A King County Superior Court commissioner <a target="_blank" href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/TRO%20granted.pdf">granted</a> Ferguson’s motion on Nov. 3.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669817140647.png" alt="U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, at a U.S. Senate hearing on the proposed merger of grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons. Nov. 29, 2022. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, at a U.S. Senate hearing on the proposed merger of grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons. Nov. 29, 2022. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom)</figcaption>
 </figure>By ARIANA FIGUEROA <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/29/albertsons-kroger-mega-deal-raises-questions-from-lawmakers-about-higher-food-prices/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — Members of a U.S. Senate
 Judiciary Committee panel raised concerns during a hearing this week that
 a proposed merger between two of the largest U.S. supermarket chains 
could mean a monopoly on groceries and lead to higher food prices for 
Americans.<a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?524439-1/hearing-merger-kroger-albertsons-grocery-store-chains&amp;live">Click here to watch</a> a replay of the hearingU.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat who chairs the Subcommittee
 on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, along with the 
top Republican on the panel, Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, grilled the CEOs of 
the Kroger Co., based in Cincinnati, and Albertsons Companies Inc., based in Boise, Idaho. The two companies are attempting to merge.&nbsp;“Over the last decade, the grocery 
industry has become increasingly consolidated, with the top four chains 
now making up more than two-thirds of all grocery sales,” Klobuchar 
said. “A lack of competition in the industry means higher prices and 
lower quality.”&nbsp;&nbsp;After Kroger announced a $24.6 
billion proposed purchase of its rival Albertsons last month, Klobuchar 
and Lee announced they planned to convene a hearing on the merger, 
citing concerns about already high food prices due to inflation, and 
their worry that a potential merger could worsen the problem.Another concern senators expressed 
was layoffs and store closures that could follow the merger. Sen. Josh 
Hawley, a Missouri Republican, pressed Kroger CEO Rodney McMullen on how
 many workers would be laid off if the two companies merged.&nbsp;McMullen said Kroger had no plans to 
lay off workers or close stories and pointed to a previous acquisition 
of Harris Teeter in 2014 where there were no layoffs or store closures.“We’ve ended up not laying off anybody because what we found is that merged companies do things better than we do,” he said.Congress would not be able to stop 
the merger, as those dealings are reviewed by the Federal Trade 
Commission and the Justice Department. It would likely take until 2024 
to complete the merger. If deemed necessary, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/merger-review">the FTC can take legal proceedings</a> to stop mergers, either in federal courts or before an FTC administrative law judge.<h2>Competing with Walmart</h2>Kroger leaders have argued that the 
deal will help them compete with top grocery retailers like Walmart and 
online behemoths like Amazon. Walmart controls about 21% of the grocery 
market share, followed by Kroger at 10% and Costco at 7%, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/profile-of-amazons-new-retail-ceo-doug-herrington-2022-7">according to Business Insider</a>. Albertsons controls about 5.8% of the grocery market share.&nbsp;Albertsons is the second-largest 
supermarket company, owning 2,300 stores and employing 290,000 people. 
Kroger is the largest supermarket operator in the U.S., with more than 
2,700 stores and 450,000 employees and owns other supermarket chains 
like Harris Teeter, Fred Meyer and Ralphs.Labor unions have also raised 
concerns. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, 
which represents more than 1 million grocery workers, said in a 
statement following the hearing that Kroger and Albertsons have not been
 transparent about wages, jobs and benefits for workers.&nbsp;“Now, more than ever, Kroger and 
Albertsons executives must provide the answers and information needed to
 address the serious concerns our members and the American people have 
about this proposed merger,” according to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ufcw.org/press-releases/ufcw-international-union-statement-on-senate-judiciary-subcommittee-hearing-on-proposed-kroger-albertsons-merger/">statement</a>.&nbsp;Klobuchar and Lee wrote a<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2/b/2b61dbcf-3bb9-49d2-a8e9-3622b1c1f9a9/7A05803C37BA9F78A1B037066B860D13.quill---letter-l7137---letter-to-ftc-chair-khan-re-albertsons-kroger-merger-002-.pdf"> joint letter </a>to
 Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan, asking for her assurance that
 the commission will thoroughly investigate the merger.&nbsp;They asked the agency to include 
findings from its investigation last fall “into grocery prices and the 
availability of food products, sending data requests to a number of 
companies, including Kroger,” in its proposed analysis of the new 
merger.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/">According to the Consumer Price Index</a>,
 food-at-home, such as grocery store or supermarket food purchases, 
increased 0.5% from September to October and was 12.4% higher than 
October of last year.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Keeping prices low</h2>Klobuchar and Sen. Alex Padilla, a 
California Democrat, grilled McMullen on how he expected Kroger to keep 
its grocery prices low if the company took out its biggest competitor, 
Albertsons, arguing that Kroger would not have an incentive to keep 
prices low without competition.&nbsp;“I just don’t see less competition 
going forward,” McMullen said, adding that his company would still 
compete with Costco, Walmart and Amazon.Sumit Sharma, a senior researcher of technology competition at Consumer Reports, disagreed with that assessment.&nbsp;“The most likely outcome is increased
 prices, fewer choices for consumers, and reduced supermarket access for
 some consumers,” he said.Padilla said that in California alone
 there are several areas where Albertsons and Kroger are the only 
supermarkets and if this merger goes through, his constituents will only
 have one option to do their food shopping.“That’s the concern,” he said. “With less competition, prices go up.”&nbsp;<h2>Cotton questions Kroger uniforms</h2>Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas 
Republican, did not ask questions about the implications of the merger 
for food prices and instead took issue with the uniform that Kroger 
employees wear, which is an apron.&nbsp;He cited a religious discrimination <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/10/31/kroger-rainbow-patch-case-settlement-announced/69605961007/">lawsuit</a>
 that Kroger recently settled in late October, in which the store paid 
$180,000 to employees who were fired months after they were given new 
apron uniforms displaying a heart patch with rainbow colors.&nbsp;The former employees interpreted the 
aprons as supportive of the LGBTQ+ community, and said the aprons 
violated their religious beliefs.&nbsp;“If this merger goes through, who’s going to be making decisions about uniforms?” Cotton asked.&nbsp;McMullen said that uniforms are put together by an associate resource group that designs them.&nbsp;“The heart is a symbol of our 
fundamental purpose … to be in community spirit,” McMullen said about 
the patch. “And part of being the human spirit is the heart and that 
heart is our fundamental strategy to support our purpose. The colors 
were not tied to any specific thing.”<h2>2015 Merger</h2>Klobuchar and Lee said they were 
skeptical the merger would not increase food prices, following what 
happened in a 2015 merger between Albertsons and Safeway.In 2015, as part of that merger, Albertsons had to participate in a divestiture and was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2015/01/ftc-requires-albertsons-safeway-sell-168-stores-condition-merger">required to sell 168</a> stores before it was allowed to merge with Safeway, per an order by the FTC.Haggen bought most of the Albertsons stores, but in less than a year, the company filed for bankruptcy and Albertsons <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2015/09/ftc-approves-application-modification-divestiture-agreement-between-albertsons-haggen-holdings-llc">ended up buying back most of the stores.</a>&nbsp;“I think this weighs heavily on the 
minds of a lot of people who have concerns about this agreement, just 
looking at the immediate past and what happened,” Klobuchar said.<h2>Blocked dividend payout</h2>Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson <a target="_blank" href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/Complaint_FINAL.pdf">filed a lawsuit </a>earlier
 this month to block Albertsons from giving its shareholders a $4 
billion dividend payout before the proposed merger with Kroger until the
 merger can be reviewed by state and federal antitrust officials.&nbsp;Ferguson argued that the $4 billion 
dividend payments exceeded what Albertsons had on hand, which according 
to SEC filings was $2.5 billion. Albertsons was prepared to borrow the 
rest for the dividend payments.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By reducing Albertsons’ cash on hand,
 Ferguson argued, it would make it difficult for Albertsons to keep up 
with inventory orders, “forcing customers to go to other grocery stores 
when shelves are not stocked with the products they seek,” and that less
 “inventory to stock could also impact employee hours.”“Paying out $4 billion before 
regulators can do their job and review the proposed merger will weaken 
Albertsons’ ability to continue business operations and compete,” 
Ferguson said in a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-ferguson-files-lawsuit-block-albertsons-paying-4-billion-shareholders-merger">statement</a>.
 “Free enterprise is built on companies competing, and that competition 
benefits consumers. Corporations proposing a merger cannot sabotage 
their ability to compete while that merger is under review.”&nbsp;&nbsp;A King County Superior Court commissioner <a target="_blank" href="https://agportal-s3bucket.s3.amazonaws.com/uploadedfiles/Another/News/Press_Releases/TRO%20granted.pdf">granted</a> Ferguson’s motion on Nov. 3.

🎥 Albertsons-Kroger merger raises questions about higher food prices

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Presidents Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron</a>&nbsp;vowed to maintain a united front against Russia on Thursday amid growing worries about waning support for Ukraine's war effort in the U.S. and Europe. Biden also signaled he might be willing to tweak aspects of his signature climate legislation that have raised concerns with France and other European allies.

Biden was honoring Macron with a grand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jill-united-states-macron-state-dinners-73f5a0d51b4058c7b96ec1e43c59a3e1">state dinner</a>&nbsp;Thursday evening — the first of the U.S. president's COVID-19 shadowed presidency for a foreign leader. But following up on Biden's upbeat comments might not go as smoothly as that fancy affair. Republicans who are about to take control of the House have shown less willingness than Biden to spend billions on Ukraine, and Democratic lawmakers said Thursday they were not about to jump back into the climate legislation.

In fact, for all the positive statements, Macron's visit to Washington has been tempered by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-biden-science-health-france-8f86bb87db731567307c29b62748cb7c">criticism of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act</a>&nbsp;and the challenges both leaders face amid the mounting costs of keeping military and economic aid flowing to Kyiv with no end in sight for the Russian invasion.

Despite the differences, Biden and Macron sought to underscore that the U.S.-France alliance remains solid and that the West must hold steadfast against Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

“Today, we reaffirm that, as I said, we’re going to stand together against this brutality,” Biden said. “Putin thinks that he can crush the will of all those who oppose his imperial ambitions by attacking civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, choking off energy to Europe to drive up prices, exacerbating the food crisis. That’s hurting very vulnerable people not just in Ukraine but around the world and he’s not going to succeed.”

Both leaders at an outdoor welcoming ceremony paid tribute to their countries’ long alliance. But they acknowledged difficult moments lay ahead as Western unity shows some wear nine months into the war in Ukraine.

In Washington, Republicans are set to take control of the House, where GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has said his party’s lawmakers will not write a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-donald-trump-humanitarian-assistance-congress-c47a255738cd13576aa4d238ec076f4a">“blank check”</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, Macron’s efforts to keep Europe united will be tested by the mounting costs of supporting Ukraine in the war and as Europe battles rising energy prices that threaten to derail the post-pandemic economic recovery.

Macron stressed that the issue has ramifications far beyond Ukraine's borders.

“What is at stake in Ukraine is not just very far from here, in a small country somewhere in Europe," he declared. "But it’s about our values. And about our principles.”

“Our two nations are sisters in the fight for freedom,” he said.

Biden indicated he would be willing to talk with Putin if the Russian leader demonstrated that he seriously wanted to end the invasion. But the U.S. president, as always, conditioned such talks on support by NATO allies.

“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding that he’s looking for a way to end the war,” Biden said. “He hasn’t done that yet.”

In addition to their talk of Ukraine — what White House officials said was at the top of the agenda — the two leaders discussed Macron's and other leaders' concerns about the recently enacted clean energy law.

Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are opposed to incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles.

Biden acknowledged “glitches” in the legislation but said “there’s tweaks we can make” to satisfy allies.

“The United States makes no apology. And I make no apologies since I wrote it for the legislation we’re talking about,” Biden added about the legislation.

However, Macron said that while the Biden administration’s efforts to curb climate change should be applauded, the subsidies would be an enormous setback for European companies.

"We want to succeed together, not one against the other,” Macron added. He said the U.S. and France would “resynchronize” their clean energy efforts to ensure there’s no “domino effect” that undermines clean energy projects in Europe.

On Capitol Hill, despite Biden's talk of possible changes in the law, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, one of the bill's main architects, said, “Congress passed a law to rev up the American electric automobile industry, create good-paying American jobs and tackle climate change at the same time. I have no intention of reopening it."

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/european-union">The European Union</a>&nbsp;has also expressed concern that tax credits in the law would discriminate against European producers and break World Trade Organization rules.

The leaders, with aides, met for about three hours after taking part in a formal ceremony with hundreds of people gathered on the South Lawn on a sunny, chilly morning. There was a 21-gun salute and review of troops, and ushers distributed small French and American flags to the guests.

Both Biden and Macron in their public comments sought to keep the focus on the situation in Ukraine.

The state visit should provide a boost to Macron diplomatically that he can leverage back in Europe. His outspoken comments help him demonstrate that he’s defending French workers, even as he maintains a close relationship with Biden. The moment also helps Macron burnish his image as the European Union's most visible and vocal leader, at a time when Europe is increasingly concerned that its economy will be indelibly weakened by the Ukraine war and resulting energy and inflation crises.

To that end, Biden praised Macron as “not just the leader of France” and for being “very outspoken and very very commanding in Europe.” In his public comments, Macron repeatedly referred to the U.S. president as "dear Joe."

Still, at moments, Macron's rhetoric has rankled U.S. and Ukrainian officials, with calls for Ukraine and Russia to meet at the negotiating table. White House officials have publicly maintained that it is solely up to Ukraine's leadership to decide when it's appropriate to engage the Russians and have stressed the war could end immediately if Putin ended his invasion.

Macron also raised eyebrows earlier this month in a speech at a summit in Bangkok when he referred to the U.S. and China as “two big elephants” that are on the cusp of creating “a big problem for the rest of the jungle.” His visit to Washington came as both the U.S. and France are keeping their eyes on China after protests have broken out in several mainland cities and Hong Kong over Beijing’s “zero COVID” strategy.

The state visit marked a return of a White House tradition of honoring close foreign allies that dates back to Ulysses S. Grant's presidency.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte, came to the U.S. bearing gifts carefully tailored to their American hosts, including a vinyl record and CD of the original soundtrack from the 1966 film “Un Homme et une Femme,” which the Bidens went to see on their first date, according to the palace.

Among the gifts Biden and first lady Jill Biden presented the Macrons was a mirror framed by fallen wood from the White House grounds and made by an American furniture maker.

Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Macron for a lunch at the State Department before the evening state dinner in an enormous tented pavilion constructed on the White House South Lawn.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669932835544.png" alt="Thursday morning, President Biden and the First Lady welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France to the White House.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Thursday morning, President Biden and the First Lady welcomed President Emmanuel Macron and Mrs. Brigitte Macron of France to the White House.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Presidents Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/emmanuel-macron">Emmanuel Macron</a>&nbsp;vowed to maintain a united front against Russia on Thursday amid growing worries about waning support for Ukraine's war effort in the U.S. and Europe. Biden also signaled he might be willing to tweak aspects of his signature climate legislation that have raised concerns with France and other European allies.Biden was honoring Macron with a grand&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-jill-united-states-macron-state-dinners-73f5a0d51b4058c7b96ec1e43c59a3e1">state dinner</a>&nbsp;Thursday evening — the first of the U.S. president's COVID-19 shadowed presidency for a foreign leader. But following up on Biden's upbeat comments might not go as smoothly as that fancy affair. Republicans who are about to take control of the House have shown less willingness than Biden to spend billions on Ukraine, and Democratic lawmakers said Thursday they were not about to jump back into the climate legislation.In fact, for all the positive statements, Macron's visit to Washington has been tempered by his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/astronomy-biden-science-health-france-8f86bb87db731567307c29b62748cb7c">criticism of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act</a>&nbsp;and the challenges both leaders face amid the mounting costs of keeping military and economic aid flowing to Kyiv with no end in sight for the Russian invasion.Despite the differences, Biden and Macron sought to underscore that the U.S.-France alliance remains solid and that the West must hold steadfast against Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.“Today, we reaffirm that, as I said, we’re going to stand together against this brutality,” Biden said. “Putin thinks that he can crush the will of all those who oppose his imperial ambitions by attacking civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, choking off energy to Europe to drive up prices, exacerbating the food crisis. That’s hurting very vulnerable people not just in Ukraine but around the world and he’s not going to succeed.”Both leaders at an outdoor welcoming ceremony paid tribute to their countries’ long alliance. But they acknowledged difficult moments lay ahead as Western unity shows some wear nine months into the war in Ukraine.In Washington, Republicans are set to take control of the House, where GOP leader Kevin McCarthy has said his party’s lawmakers will not write a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-donald-trump-humanitarian-assistance-congress-c47a255738cd13576aa4d238ec076f4a">“blank check”</a>&nbsp;for Ukraine. Across the Atlantic, Macron’s efforts to keep Europe united will be tested by the mounting costs of supporting Ukraine in the war and as Europe battles rising energy prices that threaten to derail the post-pandemic economic recovery.Macron stressed that the issue has ramifications far beyond Ukraine's borders.“What is at stake in Ukraine is not just very far from here, in a small country somewhere in Europe," he declared. "But it’s about our values. And about our principles.”“Our two nations are sisters in the fight for freedom,” he said.Biden indicated he would be willing to talk with Putin if the Russian leader demonstrated that he seriously wanted to end the invasion. But the U.S. president, as always, conditioned such talks on support by NATO allies.“I’m prepared to speak with Mr. Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding that he’s looking for a way to end the war,” Biden said. “He hasn’t done that yet.”In addition to their talk of Ukraine — what White House officials said was at the top of the agenda — the two leaders discussed Macron's and other leaders' concerns about the recently enacted clean energy law.Macron has made clear that he and other European leaders are opposed to incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act that favor American-made climate technology, including electric vehicles.Biden acknowledged “glitches” in the legislation but said “there’s tweaks we can make” to satisfy allies.“The United States makes no apology. And I make no apologies since I wrote it for the legislation we’re talking about,” Biden added about the legislation.However, Macron said that while the Biden administration’s efforts to curb climate change should be applauded, the subsidies would be an enormous setback for European companies."We want to succeed together, not one against the other,” Macron added. He said the U.S. and France would “resynchronize” their clean energy efforts to ensure there’s no “domino effect” that undermines clean energy projects in Europe.On Capitol Hill, despite Biden's talk of possible changes in the law, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, one of the bill's main architects, said, “Congress passed a law to rev up the American electric automobile industry, create good-paying American jobs and tackle climate change at the same time. I have no intention of reopening it."<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/european-union">The European Union</a>&nbsp;has also expressed concern that tax credits in the law would discriminate against European producers and break World Trade Organization rules.The leaders, with aides, met for about three hours after taking part in a formal ceremony with hundreds of people gathered on the South Lawn on a sunny, chilly morning. There was a 21-gun salute and review of troops, and ushers distributed small French and American flags to the guests.Both Biden and Macron in their public comments sought to keep the focus on the situation in Ukraine.The state visit should provide a boost to Macron diplomatically that he can leverage back in Europe. His outspoken comments help him demonstrate that he’s defending French workers, even as he maintains a close relationship with Biden. The moment also helps Macron burnish his image as the European Union's most visible and vocal leader, at a time when Europe is increasingly concerned that its economy will be indelibly weakened by the Ukraine war and resulting energy and inflation crises.To that end, Biden praised Macron as “not just the leader of France” and for being “very outspoken and very very commanding in Europe.” In his public comments, Macron repeatedly referred to the U.S. president as "dear Joe."Still, at moments, Macron's rhetoric has rankled U.S. and Ukrainian officials, with calls for Ukraine and Russia to meet at the negotiating table. White House officials have publicly maintained that it is solely up to Ukraine's leadership to decide when it's appropriate to engage the Russians and have stressed the war could end immediately if Putin ended his invasion.Macron also raised eyebrows earlier this month in a speech at a summit in Bangkok when he referred to the U.S. and China as “two big elephants” that are on the cusp of creating “a big problem for the rest of the jungle.” His visit to Washington came as both the U.S. and France are keeping their eyes on China after protests have broken out in several mainland cities and Hong Kong over Beijing’s “zero COVID” strategy.The state visit marked a return of a White House tradition of honoring close foreign allies that dates back to Ulysses S. Grant's presidency.Macron and his wife, Brigitte, came to the U.S. bearing gifts carefully tailored to their American hosts, including a vinyl record and CD of the original soundtrack from the 1966 film “Un Homme et une Femme,” which the Bidens went to see on their first date, according to the palace.Among the gifts Biden and first lady Jill Biden presented the Macrons was a mirror framed by fallen wood from the White House grounds and made by an American furniture maker.Vice President Kamala Harris hosted Macron for a lunch at the State Department before the evening state dinner in an enormous tented pavilion constructed on the White House South Lawn.___

White House meeting: Biden, Macron vow unity against Russia

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-climate-and-environment-741866342fa94e30370cb6f4b2671e60">increasing the amount of ethanol</a>&nbsp;and other biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supplies over the next three years, a move welcomed by renewable fuel and farm groups but condemned by environmentalists and oil industry groups.

“This proposal supports low-carbon renewable fuels and seeks public input on ways to strengthen the program," EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. “With this proposal, EPA seeks to provide consumers with more options while diversifying our nation’s energy mix.”

The proposal also includes new incentives to encourage the use of biogas from farms and landfills, and renewable biomass such as wood, to generate electricity to charge electric vehicles. It’s the first time the EPA has set biofuel targets on its own instead of using numbers from Congress. The agency opened a public comment period and will hold a hearing in January.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-smog-environment-4a877e9afc2837609c4a0aee72a042bc">goal of the existing Renewable Fuel Standard</a>&nbsp;is to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, expand the country’s fuel supply, strengthen energy security and reduce fuel prices for consumers. Ethanol is a key part of the economy in many Midwest states, consuming about 40% of the nation’s corn supply.

But environmentalists argue that it’s a net ecological and climate detriment because growing all that corn fosters unsustainable farming practices, while the oil industry says ethanol mandates constrain free market forces and limit consumer choice, and that higher blends can damage older vehicles.

Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, told reporters on a conference call that the EPA's plan creates a “clear pathway for sustainable growth for our industry when it comes to the production and use of low-carbon fuels like ethanol." He said it also bolsters the industry’s push for year-round sales of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend, as well as sales of the 85% ethanol blend E85.

“As the administration is working to address climate change, we’ve long known that biofuels will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases while having the added benefit of providing expanded opportunities for farmers,” National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said in a statement.

But environmental groups said the plan offers false solutions to climate change.

“This is a toxic plan directly at odds with the Biden Administration’s commitment to Environmental Justice,” Sarah Lutz, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. “Charging electric vehicles with forests and factory farms should be a non-starter.”

Geoff Moody, senior vice president of the American Fuel &amp; Petrochemical Manufacturers said the Renewable Fuel Standard was meant to be a liquid fuels program, not an electric vehicle program. He urged the EPA to go back as it develops the final rule and reject “yet another massive regulatory subsidy for electric vehicle manufacturers.”

The EPA proposes to set the total target for all kinds of renewable fuels at 20.82 billion gallons for 2023, including 15 billion gallons from corn ethanol. The target would grow to 22.68 billion gallons for 2025, including 15.25 billion gallons of corn ethanol. The plan also calls for growth in cellulosic biofuels — which are made from fibrous plant materials — biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels.

Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, the country's top corn and ethanol producing state, said in a statement that the EPA should have gone further to require even more use of advanced biofuels to move freight, which he said would help lower prices for consumer goods.

Cooper said there's probably no way to meet the proposed higher targets without more use of E15 and E85 instead of the conventional 10% ethanol mix. That makes it important to eliminate regulations that block summertime sales of E15, he said.

So, he predicted, the EPA's proposal should bolster prospects for legislation introduced this week by Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, and GOP Sen. Deb Fischer, of Nebraska, to allow year-round sales of E15 nationwide. E15 sales are usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.

Kansas, Nebraska and six other<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-smog-iowa-us-environmental-protection-agency-81f740405e32298cc8b85adc9c2f63fc">&nbsp;Midwest governors asked the EPA</a>&nbsp;in April to allow year-round sales of E15 in their states. But Cooper said the new bill would provide a “nationwide fix” that even the American Petroleum Institute considers preferable to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-iowa-campaigns-elections-227e09a39aed1680e1f4813334aeae64">current patchwork of temporary waivers and ad hoc solutions.</a>

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/covid-health-climate-and-environment-741866342fa94e30370cb6f4b2671e60">increasing the amount of ethanol</a>&nbsp;and other biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supplies over the next three years, a move welcomed by renewable fuel and farm groups but condemned by environmentalists and oil industry groups.“This proposal supports low-carbon renewable fuels and seeks public input on ways to strengthen the program," EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. “With this proposal, EPA seeks to provide consumers with more options while diversifying our nation’s energy mix.”The proposal also includes new incentives to encourage the use of biogas from farms and landfills, and renewable biomass such as wood, to generate electricity to charge electric vehicles. It’s the first time the EPA has set biofuel targets on its own instead of using numbers from Congress. The agency opened a public comment period and will hold a hearing in January.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-biden-business-smog-environment-4a877e9afc2837609c4a0aee72a042bc">goal of the existing Renewable Fuel Standard</a>&nbsp;is to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, expand the country’s fuel supply, strengthen energy security and reduce fuel prices for consumers. Ethanol is a key part of the economy in many Midwest states, consuming about 40% of the nation’s corn supply.But environmentalists argue that it’s a net ecological and climate detriment because growing all that corn fosters unsustainable farming practices, while the oil industry says ethanol mandates constrain free market forces and limit consumer choice, and that higher blends can damage older vehicles.Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, told reporters on a conference call that the EPA's plan creates a “clear pathway for sustainable growth for our industry when it comes to the production and use of low-carbon fuels like ethanol." He said it also bolsters the industry’s push for year-round sales of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend, as well as sales of the 85% ethanol blend E85.“As the administration is working to address climate change, we’ve long known that biofuels will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases while having the added benefit of providing expanded opportunities for farmers,” National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said in a statement.But environmental groups said the plan offers false solutions to climate change.“This is a toxic plan directly at odds with the Biden Administration’s commitment to Environmental Justice,” Sarah Lutz, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. “Charging electric vehicles with forests and factory farms should be a non-starter.”Geoff Moody, senior vice president of the American Fuel &amp; Petrochemical Manufacturers said the Renewable Fuel Standard was meant to be a liquid fuels program, not an electric vehicle program. He urged the EPA to go back as it develops the final rule and reject “yet another massive regulatory subsidy for electric vehicle manufacturers.”The EPA proposes to set the total target for all kinds of renewable fuels at 20.82 billion gallons for 2023, including 15 billion gallons from corn ethanol. The target would grow to 22.68 billion gallons for 2025, including 15.25 billion gallons of corn ethanol. The plan also calls for growth in cellulosic biofuels — which are made from fibrous plant materials — biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels.Republican U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, of Iowa, the country's top corn and ethanol producing state, said in a statement that the EPA should have gone further to require even more use of advanced biofuels to move freight, which he said would help lower prices for consumer goods.Cooper said there's probably no way to meet the proposed higher targets without more use of E15 and E85 instead of the conventional 10% ethanol mix. That makes it important to eliminate regulations that block summertime sales of E15, he said.So, he predicted, the EPA's proposal should bolster prospects for legislation introduced this week by Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, of Minnesota, and GOP Sen. Deb Fischer, of Nebraska, to allow year-round sales of E15 nationwide. E15 sales are usually prohibited between June 1 and Sept. 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.Kansas, Nebraska and six other<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-environment-smog-iowa-us-environmental-protection-agency-81f740405e32298cc8b85adc9c2f63fc">&nbsp;Midwest governors asked the EPA</a>&nbsp;in April to allow year-round sales of E15 in their states. But Cooper said the new bill would provide a “nationwide fix” that even the American Petroleum Institute considers preferable to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-iowa-campaigns-elections-227e09a39aed1680e1f4813334aeae64">current patchwork of temporary waivers and ad hoc solutions.</a>

EPA seeks to mandate more use of ethanol and other biofuels

WASHINGTON —The Senate has moved quickly to avert a rail strike that business leaders say would greatly damage the economy. The Senate passed a bill Thursday to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The Senate vote was 80-15.&nbsp;

President Biden praised congressional leaders for acting quickly.

"On Tuesday, I met with Congressional leaders from both parties and told them that Congress needed to move quickly to avert a rail shutdown and economic catastrophe for our nation. Now, I want to thank Congressional leadership who supported the bill and the overwhelming majority of Senators and Representatives in both parties who voted to avert a rail shutdown."

"Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring food to market and feed their livestock. And hundreds of thousands of Americans in a number of industries will keep their jobs. I will sign the bill into law as soon as Congress sends it to my desk."

"Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities."

"Many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country. And, the agreement will raise workers’ wages by 24%, increase health care benefits, and preserve two person crews."

"I have long been a supporter of paid sick leave for workers in all industries – not just the rail industry – and my fight for that critical benefit continues."

"This week’s bipartisan action pulls our economy back from the brink of a devastating shutdown that would have hurt millions of families and union workers in countless industries. Our economy is growing and inflation is moderating, and this rail agreement will continue our progress to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669762218251.png" alt="President Biden praised congressional leaders for acting quickly." />
 <figcaption>President Biden praised congressional leaders for acting quickly.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —The Senate has moved quickly to avert a rail strike that business leaders say would greatly damage the economy. The Senate passed a bill Thursday to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The Senate vote was 80-15.&nbsp;President Biden praised congressional leaders for acting quickly."On Tuesday, I met with Congressional leaders from both parties and told them that Congress needed to move quickly to avert a rail shutdown and economic catastrophe for our nation. Now, I want to thank Congressional leadership who supported the bill and the overwhelming majority of Senators and Representatives in both parties who voted to avert a rail shutdown.""Congress’ decisive action ensures that we will avoid the impending, devastating economic consequences for workers, families, and communities across the country. Communities will maintain access to clean drinking water. Farmers and ranchers will continue to be able to bring food to market and feed their livestock. And hundreds of thousands of Americans in a number of industries will keep their jobs. I will sign the bill into law as soon as Congress sends it to my desk.""Working together, we have spared this country a Christmas catastrophe in our grocery stores, in our workplaces, and in our communities.""Many in Congress shared my reluctance to override the union ratification procedures. But in this case, the consequences of a shutdown were just too great for working families all across the country. And, the agreement will raise workers’ wages by 24%, increase health care benefits, and preserve two person crews.""I have long been a supporter of paid sick leave for workers in all industries – not just the rail industry – and my fight for that critical benefit continues.""This week’s bipartisan action pulls our economy back from the brink of a devastating shutdown that would have hurt millions of families and union workers in countless industries. Our economy is growing and inflation is moderating, and this rail agreement will continue our progress to build an economy from the bottom up and middle out."

Biden on rail strike deal: We avoided a Christmas catastrophe

WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Biden administration program to cancel student loans will remain blocked for now, but the justices agreed to take up the case in late winter.

The court's decision to hear arguments relatively quickly means it is likely to determine whether the widespread loan cancellations are legal by late June.

That's about two months before the newly extended pause on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">loan repayments is set to expire</a>.

The administration had wanted a court order that would have allowed the program to take effect even as court challenges proceed. But as a fallback, it suggested the high court hold arguments and decide the issue.

Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.

The Congressional Budget Office has said the program will cost about $400 billion over the next three decades.

More than 26 million people already applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department stopped processing applications last month after a federal judge in Texas struck down the plan.

The Texas case is one of two in which federal judges have forbidden the administration from implementing the loan cancellations.

In a separate lawsuit filed by six states, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis also put the plan on hold, and that case before the Supreme Court.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668723329345.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;on Thursday said the Biden administration program to cancel student loans will remain blocked for now, but the justices agreed to take up the case in late winter.The court's decision to hear arguments relatively quickly means it is likely to determine whether the widespread loan cancellations are legal by late June.That's about two months before the newly extended pause on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-government-and-politics-f524c55faae26c2066b6795a9d29bc8d">loan repayments is set to expire</a>.The administration had wanted a court order that would have allowed the program to take effect even as court challenges proceed. But as a fallback, it suggested the high court hold arguments and decide the issue.Biden’s plan promises $10,000 in federal student debt forgiveness to those with incomes of less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. Pell Grant recipients, who typically demonstrate more financial need, are eligible for an additional $10,000 in relief.The Congressional Budget Office has said the program will cost about $400 billion over the next three decades.More than 26 million people already applied for the relief, with 16 million approved, but the Education Department stopped processing applications last month after a federal judge in Texas struck down the plan.The Texas case is one of two in which federal judges have forbidden the administration from implementing the loan cancellations.In a separate lawsuit filed by six states, a three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis also put the plan on hold, and that case before the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court blocks student loan cancellation for now

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved quickly Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.

The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9.

The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">voted</a>&nbsp;to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.

“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters.

Just before the final vote, an amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.  Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate was moving quickly Thursday in an effort to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders say would greatly damage the economy.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to hold a series of three votes related to the rail negotiations, with the final vote on whether to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September.

That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">has already voted</a>&nbsp;to impose that agreement anyway.

“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democrat Schumer told reporters.

He spoke as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;emphasized to Democratic senators that rail companies would begin shutting down operations well before a potential strike would begin on Dec. 9.

Shortly before Thursday's votes, President Joe Biden — who had urged Congress to intervene earlier this week — defended the contract that four of the unions had rejected, noting the wage increases it contains.

“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said at a news briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron. “What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had.”

Critics say that contract that did not receive backing from enough union members lacked sufficient levels of paid leave for rail workers. Biden said he wants paid leave for “everybody” so that it wouldn’t have to be negotiated in employment contracts, but Republican lawmakers have blocked measures to require time off work for medical and family reasons. The U.S. president said that Congress should now impose the contract to avoid a strike that Biden said could cause 750,000 job losses and a recession.

Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1669926736793.png" alt="The amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.&nbsp; Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>The amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave.&nbsp; Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate moved quickly Thursday to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders warned would have had devastating consequences for the nation's economy.The Senate passed a bill to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached between the rail companies and union leaders in September. That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike beginning Dec. 9.The Senate vote was 80-15. It came one day after the House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">voted</a>&nbsp;to impose the agreement. The measure now goes to President Joe Biden's desk for his signature.“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told reporters.Just before the final vote, an amendment to include 7 days of paid sick leave for rail workers failed 52-43. It needed 60 votes to pass. Kansas Senators Jerry Moran and Roger Marshall and Missouri Senator Roy Blunt voted against including paid sick leave. Republican Senators Hawley, Graham, Rubio, Cruz, Braun and Kennedy voted in favor.-----------WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate was moving quickly Thursday in an effort to avert a rail strike that the Biden administration and business leaders say would greatly damage the economy.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a deal to hold a series of three votes related to the rail negotiations, with the final vote on whether to bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September.That settlement had been rejected by some of the 12 unions involved, creating the possibility of a strike. The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">has already voted</a>&nbsp;to impose that agreement anyway.“I’m very glad that the two sides got together to avoid a shutdown, which would have been devastating for the American people, to the American economy and so many workers across the country,” Democrat Schumer told reporters.He spoke as Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;emphasized to Democratic senators that rail companies would begin shutting down operations well before a potential strike would begin on Dec. 9.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Joe Biden and the suits on one side, railroad workers on the other side. Easy call&mdash; Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) <a href="https://twitter.com/HawleyMO/status/1598393068977532928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Shortly before Thursday's votes, President Joe Biden — who had urged Congress to intervene earlier this week — defended the contract that four of the unions had rejected, noting the wage increases it contains.“I negotiated a contract no one else could negotiate,” Biden said at a news briefing with French President Emmanuel Macron. “What was negotiated was so much better than anything they ever had.”Critics say that contract that did not receive backing from enough union members lacked sufficient levels of paid leave for rail workers. Biden said he wants paid leave for “everybody” so that it wouldn’t have to be negotiated in employment contracts, but Republican lawmakers have blocked measures to require time off work for medical and family reasons. The U.S. president said that Congress should now impose the contract to avoid a strike that Biden said could cause 750,000 job losses and a recession.Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e">helped broker deals</a>&nbsp;between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-business-strikes-congress-34e0ccd4b29b55bf8bd3844eb03b5bed">the authority to do so</a>&nbsp;and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.Schumer said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.“Senators are working morning, noon and night to reach an agreement for us to act on this measure ASAP," Schumer said. “The Senate cannot leave until we get the job done. And Democrats will keep working with Republicans to find a path forward that everyone can support."The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. But a second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote, signaling dim prospects for that effort in the evenly divided Senate.----------------<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669762218251.png" alt="On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September-White House photo" />
 <figcaption>On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September-White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy would face a severe economic shock if senators don't pass legislation this week to avert a freight rail worker strike. That's the message the Biden administration is delivering personally to Democratic senators in a closed-door session Thursday.The House&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-economy-strikes-congress-government-and-politics-055609b54cfd5d21de0f42fccddff22b">acted soon</a>&nbsp;after a request from President Joe Biden and on Wednesday passed legislation that would bind rail companies and workers to a proposed settlement that was reached in September but rejected by some of the 12 unions involved. But the Senate often works at a slower pace, and the timing of final votes is unclear.Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Transportation Secretary&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/pete-buttigieg">Pete Buttigieg</a>&nbsp;are meeting with Democratic senators Thursday to underscore that rail companies will begin shuttering operations well before a potential strike begins on Dec. 9.“If there's even the possibility of a shutdown, about five days in advance of that, the railroads would have to begin winding down their acceptance of things like hazardous material shipments that you can't allow to get stranded," Buttigieg said in a CNBC interview.“So my goal today speaking to the senators will be to make sure they understand the implications of a shutdown or even getting close to a shutdown," he said. “It wouldn't just bring down our rail system. It would really shut down our economy."Railways say that halting rail service would cause a devastating $2 billion-per-day hit to the economy. A freight rail strike also would have a big potential impact on passenger rail, with Amtrak and many commuter railroads relying on tracks owned by the freight railroads.The rail companies and 12 unions have been engaged in high-stakes negotiations. The Biden administration&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-strikes-congress-94089be6a4f469444da99fec9dde1b3e">helped broker deals</a>&nbsp;between the railroads and union leaders in September, but four of the unions rejected the deals. Eight others approved five-year deals and are getting back pay for their workers for the 24% raises that are retroactive to 2020.On Monday, with a Dec. 9 strike looming, Biden called on Congress to impose the tentative agreement reached in September. Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-economy-business-strikes-congress-34e0ccd4b29b55bf8bd3844eb03b5bed">the authority to do so</a>&nbsp;and has enacted legislation in the past to delay or prohibit railway and airline strikes. But most lawmakers would prefer the parties work out their differences on their own.The intervention was particularly difficult for Democratic lawmakers who traditionally align themselves with the politically powerful labor unions that criticized Biden’s move to intervene in the contract dispute and block a strike.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., responded to that concern by holding a second vote Wednesday on a bill that would add seven days of paid sick leave per year for rail workers covered under the agreement. The call for paid sick leave was a major sticking point in the talks along with other quality-of-life concerns. The railroads say the unions have agreed in negotiations over the decades to forgo paid sick time in favor of higher wages and strong short-term disability benefits.The unions maintain that railroads can easily afford to add paid sick time when they are recording record profits. Several of the big railroads involved in these contract talks reported more than $1 billion profit in the third quarter.Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he understands the urgency and the stakes for the economy of a drawn-out fight.“Senators are working morning, noon and night to reach an agreement for us to act on this measure ASAP," Schumer said. “The Senate cannot leave until we get the job done. And Democrats will keep working with Republicans to find a path forward that everyone can support."Schumer said a priority for him would be holding a vote to provide seven days of paid sick leave. But he'll have to work out an agreement as any senator can block speedy consideration of the rail measure.The House passed the legislation enacting September's labor agreement with broad bipartisan support. But a second measure adding seven paid sick days for rail workers passed on a mostly party-line vote, signaling dim prospects for that effort in the evenly divided Senate.