SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Twitter owner Elon Musk said Thursday that he is granting "amnesty” for suspended accounts, which online safety experts predict will spur a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation.

The billionaire's announcement came after he asked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595473875847942146?s=20&amp;t=aYc9zFXDAwCUPQ_302kE9w">poll posted to his timeline to vote on reinstatements</a>&nbsp;for accounts that have not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.” The yes vote was 72%.

“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”

Musk used the same Latin phrase after posting a similar poll last last weekend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">before reinstating the account of former President Donald Trump,</a>&nbsp;which Twitter had banned for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump has said he won’t return to Twitter but has not deleted his account.

Such online polls are anything but scientific and can easily be influenced by bots.

In the month since Musk took over Twitter, groups that monitor the platform for racist, anti-Semitic and other toxic speech say it’s been on the rise on the world’s de facto public square. That has included a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CCDHate/status/1594696137499619328?s=20&amp;t=yWmu4O88PYs-IMqp38ZY6g">surge in racist abuse of World Cup soccer players</a>&nbsp;that Twitter is allegedly failing to act on.

The uptick in harmful content&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">is in large part due to the disorder</a>&nbsp;following Musk’s decision to lay off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce, fire top executives, and then institute a series of ultimatums that prompted hundreds more to quit. Also let go were an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Among those resigning over a lack of faith in Musk’s willingness to keep Twitter from devolving into a chaos of uncontrolled speech&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/yoyoel/status/1593686891965992961?s=20&amp;t=iounVw-HFTnPtzNNsdVerA">were Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth</a>.

Major advertisers have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-d9d168951c98192ef90851085f343332">abandoned the platform</a>.

On Oct. 28, the day after he took control, Musk tweeted that no suspended accounts would be reinstated until Twitter formed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints</a>&nbsp;that would consider the cases.

On Tuesday, he said he was reneging on that promise because he’d agreed to at the insistence of “a large coalition of political-social activists groups” who later ”broke the deal” by urging that advertisers at least temporarily stop giving Twitter their business.

A day earlier, Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-misinformation-cb7b71a78b7b8e3516711e287457806c">reinstated the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,</a>&nbsp;which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID misinformation policies.

Musk, meanwhile, has been getting increasingly chummy on Twitter with right-wing figures. Before this month’s U.S. midterm elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">he urged “independent-minded” people to vote Republican</a>.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — New Twitter owner Elon Musk said Thursday that he is granting "amnesty” for suspended accounts, which online safety experts predict will spur a rise in harassment, hate speech and misinformation.The billionaire's announcement came after he asked in a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1595473875847942146?s=20&amp;t=aYc9zFXDAwCUPQ_302kE9w">poll posted to his timeline to vote on reinstatements</a>&nbsp;for accounts that have not “broken the law or engaged in egregious spam.” The yes vote was 72%.“The people have spoken. Amnesty begins next week. Vox Populi, Vox Dei,” Musk tweeted using a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people, the voice of God.”Musk used the same Latin phrase after posting a similar poll last last weekend&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-biden-twitter-inc-technology-congress-d88e3de4b3cc095926dc133f53dc3320">before reinstating the account of former President Donald Trump,</a>&nbsp;which Twitter had banned for encouraging the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. Trump has said he won’t return to Twitter but has not deleted his account.Such online polls are anything but scientific and can easily be influenced by bots.In the month since Musk took over Twitter, groups that monitor the platform for racist, anti-Semitic and other toxic speech say it’s been on the rise on the world’s de facto public square. That has included a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/CCDHate/status/1594696137499619328?s=20&amp;t=yWmu4O88PYs-IMqp38ZY6g">surge in racist abuse of World Cup soccer players</a>&nbsp;that Twitter is allegedly failing to act on.The uptick in harmful content&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-sports-d9217e91f876794bd7816013fbbc8cbb">is in large part due to the disorder</a>&nbsp;following Musk’s decision to lay off half the company’s 7,500-person workforce, fire top executives, and then institute a series of ultimatums that prompted hundreds more to quit. Also let go were an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation. Among those resigning over a lack of faith in Musk’s willingness to keep Twitter from devolving into a chaos of uncontrolled speech&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/yoyoel/status/1593686891965992961?s=20&amp;t=iounVw-HFTnPtzNNsdVerA">were Twitter’s head of trust and safety, Yoel Roth</a>.Major advertisers have also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-business-d9d168951c98192ef90851085f343332">abandoned the platform</a>.On Oct. 28, the day after he took control, Musk tweeted that no suspended accounts would be reinstated until Twitter formed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">a “content moderation council” with diverse viewpoints</a>&nbsp;that would consider the cases.On Tuesday, he said he was reneging on that promise because he’d agreed to at the insistence of “a large coalition of political-social activists groups” who later ”broke the deal” by urging that advertisers at least temporarily stop giving Twitter their business.A day earlier, Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-technology-donald-trump-marjorie-taylor-greene-misinformation-cb7b71a78b7b8e3516711e287457806c">reinstated the personal account of far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene,</a>&nbsp;which was banned in January for violating the platform’s COVID misinformation policies.Musk, meanwhile, has been getting increasingly chummy on Twitter with right-wing figures. Before this month’s U.S. midterm elections&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-twitter-inc-technology-social-media-e149b458b153f53268c00ad2a757cf14">he urged “independent-minded” people to vote Republican</a>.

Musk says granting 'amnesty' to suspended Twitter accounts

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska county prosecutor has pleaded guilty in federal court to using his office to stalk his estranged wife and her boyfriend.

Former Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass was convicted of the misdemeanor Monday after he entered his plea. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/former-dodge-county-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-depriving-citizens-rights/article_9adf30a6-69e7-11ed-b912-b385775cc2bf.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reports</a>&nbsp;that the 47-year-old will face up to a year in jail when he is sentenced in February.

Prosecutors said Glass improperly accessed a law enforcement database to look up his estranged wife’s boyfriend and asked Fremont police officers and Dodge County deputies he knew to follow the man and his estranged wife for several months in 2020. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the officers involved are being investigated for their roles.

The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-indictments-9bbccfd9281243ef7f372bcc901e25d7">federal indictment</a>&nbsp;against Glass said a few days after he learned about the relationship Glass sent 46 text messages and made 10 phone calls to the boyfriend.

Glass also asked police officers and sheriff’s deputies to monitor his wife’s and her boyfriend’s homes and to try to catch them driving under the influence, the indictment says. Glass is accused of at one point telling a Nebraska State trooper that he was angry enough to “kill them both.”

Glass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fremont-crime-b3a32d264d70ac129ed9ad40e6b7b46d">resigned from office</a>&nbsp;last year after his second drunken driving arrest several months before he was indicted. Previously, Glass had refused to resign after his first DUI conviction in March 2020. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-02f4063e544909ffffdc98f93710fdcb">sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 18 months probation in that case for violating the terms of his probation in the first DUI case.

The boyfriend has filed a lawsuit against Dodge County over the harassment that he says prompted him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital because he considered killing himself. He told the newspaper that for a time officers would regularly park outside his apartment and he would be followed by police or Glass himself wherever he went.

Glass’ law license has been indefinitely suspended and his four-year-old divorce case remains pending. His attorney, Clarence Mock, said Glass acknowledges that it was wrong to use officers as his own personal detectives and now wants to put the ordeal behind him.

“The collateral consequences for him have been so severe and possibly long-lasting,” Mock said. “It’s going to be difficult for him to recover.”

Mock said Glass says he never meant to harm the couple, but he was worried about the safety of his children because the man has a criminal record.

Glass went through alcohol treatment in 2017 and 2020, and Mock said he is now working for a business that sells ads on golf course benches and sober.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A former Nebraska county prosecutor has pleaded guilty in federal court to using his office to stalk his estranged wife and her boyfriend.Former Dodge County Attorney Oliver Glass was convicted of the misdemeanor Monday after he entered his plea. The Omaha World-Herald&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/former-dodge-county-attorney-pleads-guilty-to-depriving-citizens-rights/article_9adf30a6-69e7-11ed-b912-b385775cc2bf.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">reports</a>&nbsp;that the 47-year-old will face up to a year in jail when he is sentenced in February.Prosecutors said Glass improperly accessed a law enforcement database to look up his estranged wife’s boyfriend and asked Fremont police officers and Dodge County deputies he knew to follow the man and his estranged wife for several months in 2020. It wasn’t immediately clear whether any of the officers involved are being investigated for their roles.The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-nebraska-indictments-9bbccfd9281243ef7f372bcc901e25d7">federal indictment</a>&nbsp;against Glass said a few days after he learned about the relationship Glass sent 46 text messages and made 10 phone calls to the boyfriend.Glass also asked police officers and sheriff’s deputies to monitor his wife’s and her boyfriend’s homes and to try to catch them driving under the influence, the indictment says. Glass is accused of at one point telling a Nebraska State trooper that he was angry enough to “kill them both.”Glass&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fremont-crime-b3a32d264d70ac129ed9ad40e6b7b46d">resigned from office</a>&nbsp;last year after his second drunken driving arrest several months before he was indicted. Previously, Glass had refused to resign after his first DUI conviction in March 2020. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ne-state-wire-02f4063e544909ffffdc98f93710fdcb">sentenced</a>&nbsp;to 18 months probation in that case for violating the terms of his probation in the first DUI case.The boyfriend has filed a lawsuit against Dodge County over the harassment that he says prompted him to be admitted to a psychiatric hospital because he considered killing himself. He told the newspaper that for a time officers would regularly park outside his apartment and he would be followed by police or Glass himself wherever he went.Glass’ law license has been indefinitely suspended and his four-year-old divorce case remains pending. His attorney, Clarence Mock, said Glass acknowledges that it was wrong to use officers as his own personal detectives and now wants to put the ordeal behind him.“The collateral consequences for him have been so severe and possibly long-lasting,” Mock said. “It’s going to be difficult for him to recover.”Mock said Glass says he never meant to harm the couple, but he was worried about the safety of his children because the man has a criminal record.Glass went through alcohol treatment in 2017 and 2020, and Mock said he is now working for a business that sells ads on golf course benches and sober.

Ex-prosecutor guilty of stalking estranged wife, boyfriend

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer</a>

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment at three slaughterhouses.

Labor Department officials said in court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.

A federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.

On Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that cleans food processing plants.

PSSI Vice President of Marketing Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance for any violation of that policy — period.”

Swenson also said corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers “attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.

In one instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.

Investigators say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in local school records.

Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.

“We take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.

In addition to the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify any workers from there as minors in the court documents.

Tyson spokesman Derek Burleson said the company is aware of the allegations against PSSI and is cooperating with investigators. Burleson said Tyson expects its suppliers to follow the same labor laws it does to make sure minors aren't being hired, and it is working with them to ensure that is the case.

The underage workers that investigators confirmed included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every night.

Investigators said in court documents that some of the teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when their Social Security number was checked.

PSSI asked the court to order investigators to share more details about that case and identify the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people under age 18.

But the judge only ordered limited information to be released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company documents.

“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.

The company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JOSH%20FUNK%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer</a>OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Wisconsin company that cleans hundreds of meatpacking plants nationwide is defending itself against allegations that it employed more than two dozen minors working overnight shifts cleaning massive saws, grinding machines and other dangerous processing equipment at three slaughterhouses.Labor Department officials said in court documents that they believe Packers Sanitation Services Inc. might be employing underage workers at other plants but investigators have only just starting reviewing thousands of pages of employee records at plants besides the ones in Nebraska and Minnesota where they confirmed teenagers were working through the middle of the night sanitizing slaughterhouses before heading back to high school in the morning.A federal judge in Lincoln, Nebraska, already issued a temporary order prohibiting the company from employing minors and interfering in the Labor Department's investigation. The company will argue at a court hearing next month that there's no reason for a judge to make that order permanent because PSSI officials say they are cooperating with the investigation and they already prohibit hiring anyone younger than 18.On Monday, a judge ordered the government to give the company a few more details about its investigation ahead of next month's hearing. The company says it employs some 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations nationwide, making it one of the largest firms out there that cleans food processing plants.PSSI Vice President of Marketing Gina Swenson said the company “has an absolute company-wide prohibition against the employment of anyone under the age of 18 and zero tolerance for any violation of that policy — period.”Swenson also said corporate officials have been cooperating with the investigation. But according to court documents, the Labor Department says local managers “attempted to obstruct employee interviews” at JBS plants in Grand Island, Nebraska, and Worthington, Minnesota, as well as at a Turkey Valley Farms plant in Marshall, Minnesota. Investigators said they also saw managers deleting WhatsApp messages and computer files.In one instance, investigators said they found text messages a manager at the Worthington plant sent to prospective employees who were discussing using false identification documents to secure a job with PSSI.Investigators say they have been able to confirm that at least 31 children as young as 13 have been working for PSSI by talking to them and comparing timeclock photos and employment data with pictures and information in local school records.Officials at JBS and Turkey Valley Farms say they are monitoring the situation with PSSI and will consider taking action against the company based on the outcome of the investigation.“We take seriously the allegations against PSSI, which, if true, represent a clear violation of our ethical policies,” Michael Koenig, JBS's chief ethics and compliance officer, said in a statement. He said JBS is taking steps to verify the status of all the sanitation workers at its plants and the company won't tolerate child labor.In addition to the Nebraska and Minnesota plants, investigators also seized records from a Tyson Foods plant in Sedalia, Missouri, but they didn't identify any workers from there as minors in the court documents.Tyson spokesman Derek Burleson said the company is aware of the allegations against PSSI and is cooperating with investigators. Burleson said Tyson expects its suppliers to follow the same labor laws it does to make sure minors aren't being hired, and it is working with them to ensure that is the case.The underage workers that investigators confirmed included one 13-year-old who suffered a serious chemical burn from the caustic chemicals used to clean the JBS plant in Grand Island every night.Investigators said in court documents that some of the teens they found working for PSSI told them that “everyone there knew” that they were minors, and in one case, a search of a government database showed that one employee's age came up as 129-years-old when their Social Security number was checked.PSSI asked the court to order investigators to share more details about that case and identify the children it found to help it ensure that “rogue individuals” aren't finding ways to circumvent the company's efforts to avoid hiring people under age 18.But the judge only ordered limited information to be released after the Labor Department argued that PSSI already has all the information it needs to identify any minors in its own company documents.“It is not the Secretary’s responsibility to teach defendants how to search their own documents to find the minor children they employ. Further, PSSI need only consult their own managers working on the ground at these establishments to conduct their own due diligence,” the Labor Department said in court documents.The company and investigators are due in court on Dec. 7 to argue about whether a federal judge should issue a preliminary injunction in the case.

Investigators: Firm that cleans meat plants employed minors

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.

Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.

The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by State

Something about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.

One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?

Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.

With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.

Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.

Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.

What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.

One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.

Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.

Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.

Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?

According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.

The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.

What do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.

More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:

This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;‘Tis the season for curling up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa and, of course, your favorite Christmas movie. But deciding which Christmas movie truly captures the essence of the holidays is a point of contention across the nation.Using data from Rotten Tomatoes and Google Trends,&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthynickel.com/most-popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealthy Nickel</a>&nbsp;crunched the numbers to determine the most popular Christmas movie in every state. Many holiday classics made the list, but a few states surprised us with their non-traditional picks. So cozy up on the couch amidst the twinkling glow of Christmas lights and find out if your state's idea of the most wonderful time of the year involves the North Pole or Nakatomi Plaza.The Highest-Ranked Christmas Movies by StateSomething about Christmas movies really captures the spirit of the season and can bring on a sense of nostalgia that transports viewers to Christmases past.One of those holiday classics is&nbsp;The Polar Express, which took the top spot in Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. These states love the mysterious train headed to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Who doesn't love the dancing waiters and chefs who serve hot chocolate to all the kids?Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, and West Virginia loved&nbsp;The Grinch, the story of a cynical grump who attempts to ruin Christmas for all of Whoville. While there are a few theatrical versions of the story, the most popular is 2018's animated interpretation starring the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the Grinch.With a flair for the romantic, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oregon, Virginia, and The District of Columbia all chose&nbsp;Love Actually, which follows ten Brits as they navigate their love lives in a countdown to Christmas. This romantic comedy has become a modern-day Christmas staple for many.Other favorite Christmas&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/the-best-free-movies-online-sites/">movies</a>&nbsp;include&nbsp;Home Alone,&nbsp;Elf, and&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.The Midwest - Illinois, Ohio, and North Dakota - support the Chicago-based&nbsp;Home Alone, starring Macaulay Culkin as the resourceful eight-year-old who fends off two hapless robbers from his family home. Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah eat up all the sugar they can as they watch Will Ferrell run around New York City in the endearing story of Buddy the Elf. And Connecticut, Missouri, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin stand by the oldie but goodie,&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life.Some newer movies are even starting to make their mark and become a part of the Christmas tradition. The 2019 Netflix&nbsp;<a href="https://hellosensible.com/best-christian-cartoons-for-kids/">animated</a>&nbsp;movie&nbsp;Klaus&nbsp;is popular among states such as Colorado and Washington.Elf or Edward Scissorhands?What counts as a Christmas movie? Does anything set during the holiday season fit the bill, or does Santa Claus have to make an appearance? This debate has undoubtedly started many squabbles at family gatherings. However, the cold, hard facts don't lie. The research from Wealthy Nickel showed that search volume spiked in December for several movies that wouldn't usually spring to mind as heartwarming holiday classics.One of the most surprising Christmas movies, voted a favorite by six states, is&nbsp;Trading Places. The 1980s comedy captures audiences year after year in Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. The movie follows an upper-class financial executive and a street hustler who switch lifestyles to win a bet. Set in Philadelphia during Christmas, there are plenty of opportunities for holiday hijinks, including Dan Akroyd in a Santa suit.Edward Scissorhands&nbsp;shockingly makes the cut with four states - Arizona, California, Florida, and New Mexico - all agreeing that the movie is a must-see during the holidays. While it does not adhere to the "merry and bright" definition of a standard holiday flick, it does take place during Christmastime and is beloved by many.Perhaps the most well-known Christmas-movie-that-maybe-isn't-a-Christmas-movie is&nbsp;Die Hard. Both Montana and Idaho enjoy seeing John McClane fighting to save Christmas from a group of rogue terrorists.Which States Have the Most and Least Christmas Spirit?According to the rankings, Utah is the most festive state, always on the lookout for a dose of holiday cheer. Of the twenty movies rated, Utahns were among the top five searchers for twelve of them. West Virginia and New Hampshire took second and third place as states that can't say no to a good Christmas movie. West Virginia was among the top five searchers for eleven movies and New Hampshire for seven.The least festive states, at least by volume of Christmas movie searches, were Hawaii, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Louisiana. While most of these states will never have a white Christmas, New York should be slightly ashamed to be counted in that list.Most Popular Christmas Movies By StateWhat do Nevada and Nebraska have in common? Their love of the movie&nbsp;Elf, of course! Here is the complete list of the most popular Christmas movie in every state.<ul>
 <li>Alabama -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Alaska -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>Arizona -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Arkansas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>California -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Colorado -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>Connecticut -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Delaware -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>District of Columbia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Florida -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>Georgia -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Hawaii -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Idaho -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Illinois -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Indiana -&nbsp;A Christmas Story</li><li>Iowa -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Kansas -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Kentucky -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Louisiana -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Maine -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Maryland -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Massachusetts -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Michigan -&nbsp;Krampus</li><li>Minnesota -&nbsp;Jingle All the Way</li><li>Mississippi -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Missouri -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Montana -&nbsp;Die Hard</li><li>Nebraska -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Nevada -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>New Hampshire -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>New Jersey -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>New Mexico -&nbsp;Edward Scissorhands</li><li>New York -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>North Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>North Dakota -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Ohio -&nbsp;Home Alone</li><li>Oklahoma -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>Oregon -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Pennsylvania -&nbsp;Trading Places</li><li>Rhode Island -&nbsp;Jack Frost</li><li>South Carolina -&nbsp;The Polar Express</li><li>South Dakota -&nbsp;Christmas Vacation</li><li>Tennessee -&nbsp;The Santa Clause</li><li>Texas -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Utah -&nbsp;Elf</li><li>Vermont -&nbsp;Miracle on 34th Street</li><li>Virginia -&nbsp;Love Actually</li><li>Washington -&nbsp;Klaus</li><li>West Virginia -&nbsp;The Grinch</li><li>Wisconsin -&nbsp;It's a Wonderful Life</li><li>Wyoming -&nbsp;Krampus</li>
 </ul>More Articles From the Wealth of Geeks Network:<ul>
 <li><a href="https://savoteur.com/travel-gifts-guide/">The Ultimate Holiday Travel Gift Guide for Every Aspiring Jetsetter</a></li><li><a href="https://hellosensible.com/make-10-dollars-fast/">Easy Ways to Make $10 Fast This Holiday Season</a></li>
 </ul>This article was produced and syndicated by&nbsp;<a href="https://wealthofgeeks.com/popular-christmas-movies-by-state/">Wealth of Geeks</a>.

And the most popular Christmas movie in Nebraska is...

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.

The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.

As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.

Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.

Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.

Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.

“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.

Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.

“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.

This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.

But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.

Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.

Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.

Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.

Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.

While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.

Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.

“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”

Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

NEW YORK (AP) — While Black Friday will mark a return to familiar holiday shopping patterns, uncertainty still remains.The
 U.S. job market remains strong, consumer spending is resilient and 
inflation has been slowing. But elevated prices for food, rent, gasoline
 and other household costs have taken a toll on shoppers.As a 
result, many are reluctant to spend unless there is a big sale and are 
being more selective with what they will buy — in many cases, trading 
down to cheaper stuff and less expensive stores.Shoppers are also dipping more into their savings, turning increasingly to <a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-technology-economy-113f3fc36a6af9e6d9dc919aa22ca276">“buy now, pay later”</a>
 services like Afterpay that allow users to pay for items in 
installments, as well as running up their credit cards at a time when 
the Federal Reserve is hiking rates to cool the U.S. economy.Such financial hardships could help drive shoppers to look for bargains.Isela
 Dalencia, who was shopping for household essentials like detergent at a
 Walmart in Secaucus, New Jersey, earlier this week, said she's delaying
 buying holiday gifts until Cyber Monday — the Monday after Thanksgiving
 — when online sales rev up. Then, she will wait again until the week 
before Christmas to get the best deals, unlike last year when she 
started buying before Black Friday.“I am shopping less,” Dalencia
 said, noting she will spend about $700 for holiday gifts this year, 
one-third less than last year.Katie Leach, a social worker in 
Manhattan, was also browsing the aisles at Walmart but said she will 
start holiday shopping during the first week of December as usual. This 
time, however, she'll be relying more on bargains, her credit card and 
“buy now, pay later” services to get her through the shopping season 
because of surging prices on food and other household expenses.“The money is not going as far as last year," Leach said.This
 year's trends are a contrast from a year ago when consumers were buying
 early out of fear of not getting what they needed amid clogs in the 
supply network. Stores didn't have to discount much because they were 
struggling to bring in items.But some pandemic habits are 
sticking around. Many retailers that closed stores on Thanksgiving Day 
and instead pushed discounts on their websites to thin out crowds at 
stores are still holding onto those strategies, despite a return to 
normalcy.Major retailers including Walmart and Target are again 
closing their stores on Thanksgiving. And many moved away from 
doorbusters, the deeply marked down items offered for a limited time 
that drew crowds. Instead, the discounted items are available throughout
 the month, on Black Friday or the holiday weekend.Against 
today's economic backdrop, the National Retail Federation — the largest 
retail trade group — expects holiday sales growth will slow to a range 
of 6% to 8%, from the blistering 13.5% growth of a year ago. However, 
these figures, which include online spending, aren't adjusted for 
inflation so real spending could even be down from a year ago.Adobe
 Analytics expects online sales to be up 2.5% from Nov. 1 through Dec. 
31, a slowdown from last year's 8.6% pace when shoppers were uncertain 
about returning to physical stores.Analysts consider the five-day
 Black Friday weekend, which includes Cyber Monday, a key barometer of 
shoppers' willingness to spend, particularly this year. The two-month 
period between Thanksgiving and Christmas represents about 20% of the 
retail industry’s annual sales.While Black Friday still has a 
strong place in the U.S. among shoppers, it has lost stature over the 
last decade as stores opened on Thanksgiving and shopping shifted to 
Amazon and other online retailers. Stores have further diluted the day’s
 status by promoting Black Friday sales throughout the month. This year,
 stores began sales earlier than last year to get shoppers to spread out
 their buying.Plenty of shoppers like Lolita Cordero from Brooklyn, New York, are sitting out Black Friday.“I’m
 shopping early, trying to get things on sale, discount, or clearance – 
and I use coupons,” Cordero said. “I never did Black Friday. I hear it’s
 a mess, and people get hurt.”Still, some experts believe Black 
Friday will again be the busiest shopping day this year, according to 
Sensormatic, which tracks customer traffic. Consumers are also back to 
shopping at physical stores amid easing worries about COVID-19. In fact,
 more stores opened than closed in the U.S. last year for the first time
 since 2016 — and that gap is only widening this year, according to 
Coresight Research, a retail advisory and research firm.

Holiday shopping kicks off with inflation dampening spirits

LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The holiday season kicks off with one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and Nebraska State Troopers will be working to keep motorists safe over Thanksgiving weekend.

“Thanksgiving always brings a big increase in travel on roadways in Nebraska and across the entire country,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As you travel, remember that someone is counting on you to make it to the Thanksgiving dinner table. Drive safely and do your part to help everyone on the road make it to their Thanksgiving destination.”

The Nebraska State Patrol is participating with the annual&nbsp;Click it or Ticket&nbsp;nationwide campaign. Troopers across Nebraska will be working overtime from Wednesday, November 23, through Sunday, November 27. This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $24,780 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.

AAA is projecting that nearly 50 million Americans will drive more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving. That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021.

“The weather forecast throughout the weekend looks great for roadway travel across the state,” said Colonel Bolduc. “With excellent travel conditions it’s important to not be complacent behind the wheel. Eliminate distractions, watch your speed, buckle up, and always drive sober, whether your trip is across the country or just across town.”

Troopers will be conducting high-visibility patrols across the state. Any motorist in need of assistance can call *55 or 800-525-5555 to reach the NSP Highway Helpline.

By Nebraska State Patrol&nbsp;LINCOLN, NEB.&nbsp; — The holiday season kicks off with one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, and Nebraska State Troopers will be working to keep motorists safe over Thanksgiving weekend.“Thanksgiving always brings a big increase in travel on roadways in Nebraska and across the entire country,” said Colonel John Bolduc, Superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol. “As you travel, remember that someone is counting on you to make it to the Thanksgiving dinner table. Drive safely and do your part to help everyone on the road make it to their Thanksgiving destination.”The Nebraska State Patrol is participating with the annual&nbsp;Click it or Ticket&nbsp;nationwide campaign. Troopers across Nebraska will be working overtime from Wednesday, November 23, through Sunday, November 27. This effort is made possible thanks in part to a grant for $24,780 from the Nebraska Department of Transportation – Highway Safety Office.AAA is projecting that nearly 50 million Americans will drive more than 50 miles this Thanksgiving. That’s a 1.5% increase over 2021.“The weather forecast throughout the weekend looks great for roadway travel across the state,” said Colonel Bolduc. “With excellent travel conditions it’s important to not be complacent behind the wheel. Eliminate distractions, watch your speed, buckle up, and always drive sober, whether your trip is across the country or just across town.”Troopers will be conducting high-visibility patrols across the state. Any motorist in need of assistance can call *55 or 800-525-5555 to reach the NSP Highway Helpline.

Troopers spend Thanksgiving on the road to help keep Nebraska safe

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.

Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.

Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.

Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.

“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."

Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.

“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.

Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.

City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.

Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.

Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.

In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.

“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”

Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.

Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."

“Everybody needs community,” he said.

<a href="https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search/?query=byline:%22JESSE%20BEDAYN%22&amp;mediaType=text&amp;st=keyword&amp;sortOrder=newest">By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press/Report for America</a>COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — The co-owner of the Colorado Springs gay nightclub where a shooter turned a drag queen’s birthday celebration into a massacre said he thinks the shooting that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-shootings-colorado-denver-springs-79976bed902603de59bd7b6ba2b16aff">killed five people</a>&nbsp;and injured 17 others is a reflection of anti-LGBTQ sentiment that has evolved from prejudice to incitement.Nic Grzecka’s voice was tinged with exhaustion as he spoke with The Associated Press on Wednesday night in some of his first comments since Saturday night's attack at Club Q, a venue Grzecka helped&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-shootings-colorado-gay-rights-112e79c6886defbcc07e2c7cec32a246">build into an enclave</a>&nbsp;that sustained the LGBTQ community in conservative-leaning Colorado Springs.Authorities haven’t said why the suspect opened fired at the club before being subdued into submission by patrons, but they are facing hate crime charges. The suspect, Anderson Lee Aldrich, 22, has not entered a plea or spoken about the incident.Grzecka said he believes the targeting of a drag queen event is connected to the art form&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/government-and-politics-a26e7eee15df0bbc2bb98071b683b1f4">being cast in a false light</a>&nbsp;in recent months by right-wing activists and politicians who complain about the “sexualization” or “grooming” of children. Even though general acceptance of the LGBTQ community has grown, this new dynamic has fostered a dangerous climate.“It’s different to walk down the street holding my boyfriend's hand and getting spit at (as opposed to) a politician relating a drag queen to a groomer of their children," Grzecka said. “I would rather be spit on in the street than the hate get as bad as where we are today."Earlier this year, Florida's Republican-dominated legislature passed a bill&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/florida-dont-say-gay-law-signed-56aee61f075a12663f25990c7b31624d">barring teachers from discussing gender identity</a>&nbsp;or sexual orientation with younger students. A month later, references to “pedophiles” and “grooming” in relation to LGBTQ people rose 400%, according to a report by the Human Rights Campaign.“Lying about our community, and making them into something they are not, creates a different type of hate,” said Grzecka.Grzecka, who started mopping floors and bartending at Club Q in 2003 a year after it opened, said he hopes to channel his grief and anger into figuring out how to rebuild the support system for Colorado Springs’ LGBTQ community that only Club Q had provided.City and state officials have offered support and President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reached out to Grzecka and co-owner Matthew Haynes on Thursday to offer condolences and reiterate their support for the community as well as their commitment to fighting back against hate and gun violence.Grzecka said Club Q opened after the only other gay bar in Colorado Springs at that time shuttered. He described that era as an evolution of gay bars. Decades ago, dingy, hole-in-the-wall gay venues were meant largely for finding a hookup or date, said Grzecka. But he said once the internet offered anonymous ways to find love online, the bars transitioned into well lit, clean non-smoking spaces to hang out with friends. Club Q was at the vanguard of that transition.Once he became co-owner in 2014, Grzecka helped mold Club Q into not merely a nightlife venue but a community center – a platform to create a “chosen family” for LGBTQ people, especially for those estranged from their birth family. Drag queen bingo nights, friendsgiving and Christmas dinners, birthday celebrations became staples of Club Q which was open 365 days a year.In the aftermath of the shooting, with that community center having been torn away, Grzecka and other community leaders said they are channeling grief and anger into reconstituting the support structure that only Club Q had offered.“When that system goes away, you realize how much more the bar was really providing,” said Justin Burn, an organizer with Pikes Peak Pride. “Those that may or may not have been a part of the Club Q family, where do they go?”Burn said the shooting pulled back a curtain on a broader lack of resources for LGBTQ adults in Colorado Springs. Burn, Grzecka and others are working with national organizations to do an assessment of the community's need as they develop a blueprint to offer a robust support network.Grzecka is looking to rebuild the “loving culture” and necessary support to “make sure that this tragedy is turned into the best thing it can be for the city."“Everybody needs community,” he said.

Gay club owner: Shooting comes amid a new 'type of hate'

NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.

Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.

“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.

The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.

Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.

Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.

But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.

“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.

It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.

Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.

This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.

The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.

Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.

President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”

They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.

Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669307551663.jpeg" alt="The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)" />
 <figcaption>The Boss Baby balloon makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Thursday, Nov. 24, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon)</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Throngs of spectators lined the streets of New York 
on Thursday as colorful, high-flying balloons helped usher in the 
holiday season during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.The 
annual tradition, which dates back nearly a century, packed streets as a
 procession of giant inflatables and floats streamed for more than 40 
blocks from Central Park to Herald Square.Children balanced atop 
metal barricades and hung from scaffolding to watch the balloons amid 
mostly sunny skies and a slight breeze.“Blue, Blue. There's 
Blue,” yelled Divyam Kumar, 6, as his father helped balance him and his 
4-year-old brother Aanu Aryan on a metal rail.The youngster was 
referring to the star of the animated show “Blue's Clues" — not to be 
confused with the international cartoon sensation Bluey, an Australian 
cattle pup making her parade debut.Bluey's balloon towered as tall as a four-story building and stretched as wide as seven taxi cabs.Stuart, the one-eyed Minion, was also there to thrill the crowd.But it was Snoopy that especially caught the eye of Brenner Chenenko, 8, even more so than the more contemporary pups.“It's
 one of the classics,” said the youngster from Rochester, New York, who 
lined the parade route with his father Nate and grandfather John 
Wopperer.It was the first time the father and son had seen the 
parade in person. Wopperer last saw a parade live three years ago, 
before the pandemic sidelined the event for a year.Snoopy, dressed as an astronaut, was followed by another old-time favorite, Papa Smurf.This
 year's parade featured 16 giant balloons, 28 floats, 40 novelty and 
heritage inflatables, 12 marching bands, 10 performance groups, 700 
clowns and one Santa Claus.The procession of characters were 
joined by singer Paula Abdul, in her first parade appearance; indie pop 
band Fitz and the Tantrums; boy band Big Time Rush; “Blue’s Clues &amp; 
You!” host Josh Dela Cruz; singer Gloria Estefan; gospel singer Kirk 
Franklin; actor Mario Lopez; reggae star Ziggy Marley; and Miss America 
2022 Emma Broyles.Singers Joss Stone, Jordin Sparks and Betty Who
 were also part of the festivities, as were the stars of Peacock’s 
“Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin” — Adam Devine, Sarah Hyland and Flula 
Borg. Jimmy Fallon &amp; The Roots were on a float celebrating Central 
Park.President Biden and Jill Biden called into the parade, as he
 did last year. Biden thanked firefighters, police officers and first 
responders, saying, “They never take a break.”They thanked the troops and Biden said he would be reaching out to speak to some today.Asked
 about their plans for the day in Nantucket, Massachusetts, the Bidens 
said it would involve family, and some time spent locally, thanking 
first responders.

High-flying balloon characters star in NYC Thanksgiving parade

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett donated more than $750 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock to the four foundations run by his family Wednesday. Unlike Buffett's planned annual gifts to charity each summer, the recipients didn't include the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett has been making donations to the five charities every year since 2006, when he unveiled a plan to give away his fortune over time, with the Gates Foundation receiving the biggest donations. Wednesday's donations mark the first time the 92-year-old has made a second major gift within the same year.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett donated more than $750 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock to the four foundations run by his family Wednesday, but unlike his annual gifts to charity each summer, the recipients didn't include the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.

Buffett has been making annual donations to the same five charities every year since 2006 when he unveiled a plan to give away his fortune over time, with the Gates Foundation receiving the biggest donations. Wednesday's donations mark the first time the 92-year-old has made a second major gift within the same year.

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed Buffett gave 1.5 million Class B shares in the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate he leads to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for his first wife. He also gave 300,000 Class B shares apiece to the three foundations run by his children: the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the NoVo Foundation.

In June, he gave 11 million Class B shares to the Gates Foundation, 1.1 million B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and 770,218 shares apiece to his children's three foundations.

It wasn't immediately clear what prompted the new donations this week, and Buffett didn't immediately respond Wednesday to questions about them. The Gates Foundation and the Buffett family foundations that received the gifts also didn't immediately respond to questions.

The only other major change Buffett has made to his giving plans over the years came a decade ago when he significantly increased the amount pledged to the foundations his children run because he was pleased with what they had done with his money.

The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation keeps a low profile, but over the years it has been a major supporter of abortion rights, making large gifts to Planned Parenthood and other groups. Buffett hasn't announced any changes in his giving plans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year.

Susie Buffett, 69, uses her Sherwood Foundation to strengthen early childhood education and support a number of projects around Buffett's hometown of Omaha where she also lives. Howard Buffett, 67, is helping farmers in impoverished nations produce more and working to end world hunger with his namesake foundation. Peter Buffett, 64, has dedicated his NoVo Foundation to empowering women and girls worldwide through education, collaboration and economic development to end violence against women.

Even after these latest gifts, Buffett still controls more than 31% of Berkshire's voting power.

Berkshire Hathaway is an eclectic conglomerate that owns more than 90 companies including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance, several major utilities and an assortment of manufacturing and retail firms including Precision Castparts, Dairy Queen and Helzberg Diamonds. In addition to the companies it owns outright, Berkshire owns major investments in Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola and other companies.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1562016004593.png" alt="Buffett" />
 <figcaption>Buffett</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOSH FUNK AP Business WriterOMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett donated more than $750 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock to the four foundations run by his family Wednesday. Unlike Buffett's planned annual gifts to charity each summer, the recipients didn't include the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. Buffett has been making donations to the five charities every year since 2006, when he unveiled a plan to give away his fortune over time, with the Gates Foundation receiving the biggest donations. Wednesday's donations mark the first time the 92-year-old has made a second major gift within the same year.OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett donated more than $750 million in Berkshire Hathaway stock to the four foundations run by his family Wednesday, but unlike his annual gifts to charity each summer, the recipients didn't include the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation.Buffett has been making annual donations to the same five charities every year since 2006 when he unveiled a plan to give away his fortune over time, with the Gates Foundation receiving the biggest donations. Wednesday's donations mark the first time the 92-year-old has made a second major gift within the same year.A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission showed Buffett gave 1.5 million Class B shares in the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate he leads to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, named for his first wife. He also gave 300,000 Class B shares apiece to the three foundations run by his children: the Sherwood Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the NoVo Foundation.In June, he gave 11 million Class B shares to the Gates Foundation, 1.1 million B shares to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation and 770,218 shares apiece to his children's three foundations.It wasn't immediately clear what prompted the new donations this week, and Buffett didn't immediately respond Wednesday to questions about them. The Gates Foundation and the Buffett family foundations that received the gifts also didn't immediately respond to questions.The only other major change Buffett has made to his giving plans over the years came a decade ago when he significantly increased the amount pledged to the foundations his children run because he was pleased with what they had done with his money.The Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation keeps a low profile, but over the years it has been a major supporter of abortion rights, making large gifts to Planned Parenthood and other groups. Buffett hasn't announced any changes in his giving plans since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this year.Susie Buffett, 69, uses her Sherwood Foundation to strengthen early childhood education and support a number of projects around Buffett's hometown of Omaha where she also lives. Howard Buffett, 67, is helping farmers in impoverished nations produce more and working to end world hunger with his namesake foundation. Peter Buffett, 64, has dedicated his NoVo Foundation to empowering women and girls worldwide through education, collaboration and economic development to end violence against women.Even after these latest gifts, Buffett still controls more than 31% of Berkshire's voting power.Berkshire Hathaway is an eclectic conglomerate that owns more than 90 companies including BNSF railroad, Geico insurance, several major utilities and an assortment of manufacturing and retail firms including Precision Castparts, Dairy Queen and Helzberg Diamonds. In addition to the companies it owns outright, Berkshire owns major investments in Apple, Bank of America, Coca-Cola and other companies.

Buffett donates over $750 million to his family charities

By SCOTT McFETRIDGE Associated Press

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — The bodies of more than 80 Native American children are buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in central Nebraska. But for decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. That mystery may soon be solved thanks to efforts by researchers who pored over century-old documents and maps, examined land with specially trained dogs and made use of ground-penetrating radar in search of the lost graves.

GENOA, Neb. (AP) — The bodies of more than 80 Native American children are buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in central Nebraska.

But for decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa.

That mystery may soon be solved thanks to efforts by researchers who pored over century-old documents and maps, examined land with specially trained dogs and made use of ground-penetrating radar in search of the lost graves.

"These children, in my opinion, were disrespected, and they were throwaway children that no one talked about," said Judi gaiashkibos, the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s. "They were hidden, buried under the ground, and it's time to take the darkness away. Until we do that, we have not honored those children."

The search for the graves comes as the federal government is in the midst of a first-ever comprehensive examination of the national system of more than 400 Native American boarding schools. The schools and additional privately funded institutions were part of an attempt to integrate Indigenous people into the white culture by separating children forcibly or by coercion from their families and cutting them off from their heritage.

The U.S. Interior Department, led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary, released a report last spring that detailed the boarding school program and noted more than 500 deaths. That number is expected to increase significantly in a second Interior Department report, which will explore boarding school deaths and how the forced removal of children to the schools damaged Indigenous communities.

The federal investigation didn't prompt the work in Genoa but it has added new urgency to the effort.

If the Genoa graves are found, decisions about whether to commemorate them or consider disinterring the remains will be left to representatives of Native American tribes, but simply finding the cemetery will be an accomplishment for individuals who for years have sought to gain a greater understanding of the Nebraska school.

The Genoa Indian Industrial School opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students. In the decades it was open, more than 4,300 children lived there, making it one of the largest Native American schools in the country. The students were given a basic academic education and spent much of their time learning hands-on skills such as horse bridle-making for boys and sewing for girls that had limited value for a country in the midst of an industrial transformation.

The children typically spent long, exhausting days, rising as early as 4 a.m. for chores, followed by several hours of school before working the rest of the day in kitchens, workshops or out in the fields, said gaiashkibos. Discipline could be harsh, with even young children facing beatings for breaking rules.

"Absolutely, we know the children were living in fear," gaiashkibos said. "There were no hugs from mom or grandma. There were no songs sung. Everything was foreign to them."

Children from over 40 tribes were brought from as far away as Idaho and Maine to the school. The were forbidden from speaking their Native languages, their hair was cut — a traumatic experience given the cultural significance for many Native Americans of long hair — and they were required to wear uniforms.

This "forced incarceration" of children at a school hundreds an even thousands of miles away from their homes had a two-fold goal of crushing Native American cultures and aiding in the stealing of Native land, said Farina King, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma who focuses on Native American studies.

"More than anything there was a clear agenda to cut the ties between their people, their homeland, their culture," said King, a member of the Navajo Nation whose father attended one of the boarding schools. "They wanted to get them away as far as they could."

At Genoa, that typically meant taking a train that would stop at the school grounds, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha.

After the school closed, most of the larger buildings were demolished and the land sold for other uses. A two-story brick workshop that has been turned into a museum remains, as does a smokestack that towers over the community, but the gymnasium, multi-story classroom buildings and dormitories are long gone and it's hard to imagine a large school once existed in the small community.

The cemetery would have been forgotten too, if not for residents who for 30 years had been searching documents and the land around their community for the burial site. Their effort was given a boost about six years ago by the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project, which included advisers from some of the tribes whose ancestors attended the school and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Based off newspaper clippings, superintendent's records, one student's letter that described a cemetery and other documents, they determined at least 86 students died at the school. It's unclear whether close living conditions contributed to the deaths, but records indicate students most commonly died of diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid and measles. There also was at least one death by accidental shooting and another due to a neck injury.

Researchers identified 49 of the children who died but have not been able to find names for 37 students. It's believed the bodies of a few children were returned to their families.

But while the researchers accounted for the deaths, they couldn't find where the children were buried.

Interest in bringing more professionals to help in Genoa grew after Canada announced in 2021 the discovery of mass graves of Indigenous children at residential schools, said Dave Williams, Nebraska's state archeologist.

"We've heard from residents knowing there were burials nearby, knowing this was the Genoa school cemetery, but that precise location has been lost to time," Williams said. "We've heard it's in a few different locations but so far that hasn't panned out."

There were plenty of theories from residents and even former students, but it took study of maps and aerial photos to narrow down a few options. An initial effort to find remains using ground-penetrating radar wasn't successful, but last summer an Iowa man volunteered to come to the site with dogs that are trained to detect the faint odor of decaying remains.

Two dogs separately signaled they smelled remains on a narrow piece of land sandwiched between railroad tracks, a cornfield and a canal that was dug soon after the boarding school closed. In late October and early November, a team affiliated with the National Park Service made two trips to the site and used different kinds of ground-penetrating radar in hopes of detecting what was beneath the soil.

The results of their examination should be available later in November.

To gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, thinking of the boarding school and searching for the cemetery brings an overwhelming sense of sadness. But she said finding the cemetery is an essential step in honoring the children and recognizing what they had to endure.

"To heal, we have to have answers and bring closure," she said. "We need to know, where are those children?"

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669292819338.jpeg" alt="In this undated photo provided by National Archives, fourth grade students sit in a classroom at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Genoa, Nebraska. Researchers are now trying to locate the bodies of more than 80 Native American children buried near the school in central Nebraska. For decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. (National Archives via AP)" />
 <figcaption>In this undated photo provided by National Archives, fourth grade students sit in a classroom at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in Genoa, Nebraska. Researchers are now trying to locate the bodies of more than 80 Native American children buried near the school in central Nebraska. For decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. (National Archives via AP)</figcaption>
 </figure>By SCOTT McFETRIDGE Associated PressGENOA, Neb. (AP) — The bodies of more than 80 Native American children are buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in central Nebraska. But for decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. That mystery may soon be solved thanks to efforts by researchers who pored over century-old documents and maps, examined land with specially trained dogs and made use of ground-penetrating radar in search of the lost graves.GENOA, Neb. (AP) — The bodies of more than 80 Native American children are buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School in central Nebraska.But for decades, the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669292900974.jpeg" alt="A member of a team affiliated with the National Park Service uses ground-penetrating radar in hopes of detecting what is beneath the soil while searching for over 80 Native American children buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Genoa, Neb. For decades the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)" />
 <figcaption>A member of a team affiliated with the National Park Service uses ground-penetrating radar in hopes of detecting what is beneath the soil while searching for over 80 Native American children buried at the former Genoa Indian Industrial School, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, in Genoa, Neb. For decades the location of the student cemetery has been a mystery, lost over time after the school closed in 1931 and memories faded of the once-busy campus that sprawled over 640 acres in the tiny community of Genoa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)</figcaption>
 </figure>That mystery may soon be solved thanks to efforts by researchers who pored over century-old documents and maps, examined land with specially trained dogs and made use of ground-penetrating radar in search of the lost graves."These children, in my opinion, were disrespected, and they were throwaway children that no one talked about," said Judi gaiashkibos, the executive director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs whose mother attended the school in the late 1920s. "They were hidden, buried under the ground, and it's time to take the darkness away. Until we do that, we have not honored those children."The search for the graves comes as the federal government is in the midst of a first-ever comprehensive examination of the national system of more than 400 Native American boarding schools. The schools and additional privately funded institutions were part of an attempt to integrate Indigenous people into the white culture by separating children forcibly or by coercion from their families and cutting them off from their heritage.The U.S. Interior Department, led by Secretary Deb Haaland, a member of Laguna Pueblo in New Mexico and the first Native American Cabinet secretary, released a report last spring that detailed the boarding school program and noted more than 500 deaths. That number is expected to increase significantly in a second Interior Department report, which will explore boarding school deaths and how the forced removal of children to the schools damaged Indigenous communities.The federal investigation didn't prompt the work in Genoa but it has added new urgency to the effort.If the Genoa graves are found, decisions about whether to commemorate them or consider disinterring the remains will be left to representatives of Native American tribes, but simply finding the cemetery will be an accomplishment for individuals who for years have sought to gain a greater understanding of the Nebraska school.The Genoa Indian Industrial School opened in 1884 and at its height was home to nearly 600 students. In the decades it was open, more than 4,300 children lived there, making it one of the largest Native American schools in the country. The students were given a basic academic education and spent much of their time learning hands-on skills such as horse bridle-making for boys and sewing for girls that had limited value for a country in the midst of an industrial transformation.The children typically spent long, exhausting days, rising as early as 4 a.m. for chores, followed by several hours of school before working the rest of the day in kitchens, workshops or out in the fields, said gaiashkibos. Discipline could be harsh, with even young children facing beatings for breaking rules."Absolutely, we know the children were living in fear," gaiashkibos said. "There were no hugs from mom or grandma. There were no songs sung. Everything was foreign to them."Children from over 40 tribes were brought from as far away as Idaho and Maine to the school. The were forbidden from speaking their Native languages, their hair was cut — a traumatic experience given the cultural significance for many Native Americans of long hair — and they were required to wear uniforms.This "forced incarceration" of children at a school hundreds an even thousands of miles away from their homes had a two-fold goal of crushing Native American cultures and aiding in the stealing of Native land, said Farina King, an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma who focuses on Native American studies."More than anything there was a clear agenda to cut the ties between their people, their homeland, their culture," said King, a member of the Navajo Nation whose father attended one of the boarding schools. "They wanted to get them away as far as they could."At Genoa, that typically meant taking a train that would stop at the school grounds, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) west of Omaha.After the school closed, most of the larger buildings were demolished and the land sold for other uses. A two-story brick workshop that has been turned into a museum remains, as does a smokestack that towers over the community, but the gymnasium, multi-story classroom buildings and dormitories are long gone and it's hard to imagine a large school once existed in the small community.The cemetery would have been forgotten too, if not for residents who for 30 years had been searching documents and the land around their community for the burial site. Their effort was given a boost about six years ago by the Genoa Indian School Digital Reconciliation Project, which included advisers from some of the tribes whose ancestors attended the school and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.Based off newspaper clippings, superintendent's records, one student's letter that described a cemetery and other documents, they determined at least 86 students died at the school. It's unclear whether close living conditions contributed to the deaths, but records indicate students most commonly died of diseases such as tuberculosis, typhoid and measles. There also was at least one death by accidental shooting and another due to a neck injury.Researchers identified 49 of the children who died but have not been able to find names for 37 students. It's believed the bodies of a few children were returned to their families.But while the researchers accounted for the deaths, they couldn't find where the children were buried.Interest in bringing more professionals to help in Genoa grew after Canada announced in 2021 the discovery of mass graves of Indigenous children at residential schools, said Dave Williams, Nebraska's state archeologist."We've heard from residents knowing there were burials nearby, knowing this was the Genoa school cemetery, but that precise location has been lost to time," Williams said. "We've heard it's in a few different locations but so far that hasn't panned out."There were plenty of theories from residents and even former students, but it took study of maps and aerial photos to narrow down a few options. An initial effort to find remains using ground-penetrating radar wasn't successful, but last summer an Iowa man volunteered to come to the site with dogs that are trained to detect the faint odor of decaying remains.Two dogs separately signaled they smelled remains on a narrow piece of land sandwiched between railroad tracks, a cornfield and a canal that was dug soon after the boarding school closed. In late October and early November, a team affiliated with the National Park Service made two trips to the site and used different kinds of ground-penetrating radar in hopes of detecting what was beneath the soil.The results of their examination should be available later in November.To gaiashkibos, a member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, thinking of the boarding school and searching for the cemetery brings an overwhelming sense of sadness. But she said finding the cemetery is an essential step in honoring the children and recognizing what they had to endure."To heal, we have to have answers and bring closure," she said. "We need to know, where are those children?"

Researchers seek lost Native American boarding school graves

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/23/nebraska-test-scores-show-sizable-hurdle-of-pandemic-learning-loss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — The academic hole facing 
Nebraska’s students, teachers, parents and policymakers became clearer 
Wednesday with the release of state K-12 test scores from 2021-22.

Student proficiency scores in math 
and language arts were mixed, amid a national dip in student performance
 on tests taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

Last year, proficiency scores in math
 for third graders through eighth graders increased from 46% to 47%, 
while language arts scores fell from 48% to 46%, according to Nebraska 
Department of Education statistics. Two-thirds — 66% — passed the 
state’s new science test.&nbsp;

Math and language arts scores 
reoriented lower starting in 2017, when the state started testing the 
bulk of its students on a more rigorous set of college- and career-based
 standards. Under this new system, statewide proficiency scores in 
language arts and math were slightly above 50% pre-pandemic.&nbsp;

This year’s test found 46% of the state’s high school juniors proficient in language arts, 44% in math and 48% in science.

Test scores became an issue during <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/05/state-board-of-ed-races-could-decide-future-role-of-board-next-ed-commissioner/">State Board of Education races this fall</a>.&nbsp; On Wednesday, senators from both parties said the Legislature is prepared to help fight learning loss.&nbsp;

State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the chair of the Legislature’s 
Education Committee, said lawmakers, policymakers and schools need to 
focus on fighting absenteeism, school staffing, early childhood 
education, empowering teachers and reengaging parents in student 
learning.

“The test score results were really exactly what we expected,” Walz 
said. “We expected to see a dip. I think we were really fortunate that 
we were able to get our kids back in school sooner than others.”

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, who has pushed for education 
accountability and school choice, applauded the department for 
maintaining how it evaluates student learning. She wants the Legislature
 to focus on literacy for young students, teacher training and special 
education.

“You can’t improve what you can’t see,” Linehan said. “If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.”

Retiring Nebraska Education 
Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said the scores show that students had less 
of a learning loss than those in other states. He and the state senators
 thanked Nebraska teachers for their work during difficult times.

To see more of Nebraska’s 2021-22 test scores,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nepuat.education.ne.gov/">click here</a>.

“Nebraska public schools, while 
impacted by the pandemic, remained strong,” he said. “Our statewide 
assessments are showing similar trends, and now is the time for schools 
to focus supports on the areas that have the most need.”

Blomstedt and representatives of the Nebraska State Education Association said similar things <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-touts-student-scores-on-national-math-reading-assessment/">in late October about the state’s scores</a> on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

On NAEP, no state scored higher than 
Nebraska in fourth-grade math, and just one state had higher scores in 
eighth-grade math. Nebraska was fourth in fourth-grade reading and 
eighth in eighth-grade reading.

However, state tests show the 
pandemic appears to have exacerbated Nebraska’s persistent challenges in
 closing achievement gaps between students of plenty and students living
 in poverty.

The students who lost the most ground
 were students whose families suffered the most during the pandemic, 
including students learning English and students of color.

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/23/nebraska-test-scores-show-sizable-hurdle-of-pandemic-learning-loss/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — The academic hole facing 
Nebraska’s students, teachers, parents and policymakers became clearer 
Wednesday with the release of state K-12 test scores from 2021-22.Student proficiency scores in math 
and language arts were mixed, amid a national dip in student performance
 on tests taken during the coronavirus pandemic.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1669223743178.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (Courtesy of Department of Education)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Education Commissioner Matthew Blomstedt (Courtesy of Department of Education)</figcaption>
 </figure>Last year, proficiency scores in math
 for third graders through eighth graders increased from 46% to 47%, 
while language arts scores fell from 48% to 46%, according to Nebraska 
Department of Education statistics. Two-thirds — 66% — passed the 
state’s new science test.&nbsp;Math and language arts scores 
reoriented lower starting in 2017, when the state started testing the 
bulk of its students on a more rigorous set of college- and career-based
 standards. Under this new system, statewide proficiency scores in 
language arts and math were slightly above 50% pre-pandemic.&nbsp;This year’s test found 46% of the state’s high school juniors proficient in language arts, 44% in math and 48% in science.Test scores became an issue during <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/11/05/state-board-of-ed-races-could-decide-future-role-of-board-next-ed-commissioner/">State Board of Education races this fall</a>.&nbsp; On Wednesday, senators from both parties said the Legislature is prepared to help fight learning loss.&nbsp;State Sen. Lynne Walz of Fremont, the chair of the Legislature’s 
Education Committee, said lawmakers, policymakers and schools need to 
focus on fighting absenteeism, school staffing, early childhood 
education, empowering teachers and reengaging parents in student 
learning.“The test score results were really exactly what we expected,” Walz 
said. “We expected to see a dip. I think we were really fortunate that 
we were able to get our kids back in school sooner than others.”State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Omaha, who has pushed for education 
accountability and school choice, applauded the department for 
maintaining how it evaluates student learning. She wants the Legislature
 to focus on literacy for young students, teacher training and special 
education.“You can’t improve what you can’t see,” Linehan said. “If you don’t know what the problem is, you can’t fix it.”Retiring Nebraska Education 
Commissioner Matt Blomstedt said the scores show that students had less 
of a learning loss than those in other states. He and the state senators
 thanked Nebraska teachers for their work during difficult times.-------<h2>Dig into the scores</h2>To see more of Nebraska’s 2021-22 test scores,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nepuat.education.ne.gov/">click here</a>.-------“Nebraska public schools, while 
impacted by the pandemic, remained strong,” he said. “Our statewide 
assessments are showing similar trends, and now is the time for schools 
to focus supports on the areas that have the most need.”Blomstedt and representatives of the Nebraska State Education Association said similar things <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/state-touts-student-scores-on-national-math-reading-assessment/">in late October about the state’s scores</a> on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.On NAEP, no state scored higher than 
Nebraska in fourth-grade math, and just one state had higher scores in 
eighth-grade math. Nebraska was fourth in fourth-grade reading and 
eighth in eighth-grade reading.However, state tests show the 
pandemic appears to have exacerbated Nebraska’s persistent challenges in
 closing achievement gaps between students of plenty and students living
 in poverty.The students who lost the most ground
 were students whose families suffered the most during the pandemic, 
including students learning English and students of color.State test scores showed less than 
10% of English language learners scored proficient in math or language 
arts. Of students with free or reduced-priced lunch, a measure of 
poverty, less than a third scored proficient in either subject. Students
 with disabilities also scored lower during the pandemic.Blomstedt highlighted the importance of addressing a pandemic-fueled 
increase in the number of students who were chronically absen. That has 
remained about double what it was before the pandemic, with 77,000 
students missing 10% or more of their time in school in 2021-22.Wednesday’s results include the 
Nebraska Student-Centered Assessment System, or NSCAS, and the 
Accountability for a Quality Education System Today and Tomorrow, or 
AQuESTT.NSCAS tests learning in core subject 
areas. Roughly 99% of students typically take it, although that level 
dipped to about 95% in 2020-21. AQuESTT scores schools to prioritize 
financial support for the schools that need it most.Blomstedt said Nebraska schools will focus on increased instructional
 time to catch students up, he said, but it may require additional 
investment. He said the state needs to target investments to sustain 
improvement in academic growth, including special education, reading and
 encouraging attendance.Susanne Cramer, executive director 
for academic recovery and school improvement at the Omaha Public 
Schools, said in a statement that tests are “a single point of data” and
 that more context is needed.Schools are more focused on helping 
students improve, testing them for growth from what they know when they 
arrive to what they know at different points throughout the year, she 
said.She highlighted OPS gains in elementary school scores and expressed concern about dips between sixth and eighth grade.&nbsp;The district serves the state’s largest number of students in poverty.She said in a recorded statement that
 administrators and teachers are focused on boosting academic support, 
including tutoring and broader use of summer school.&nbsp;“The additional investment in our 
students is really an investment in their future,” she said. “That’s how
 we respond to this data. That’s how we respond to all data.”