SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following an incident at USD 480 in Liberal.

Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, police were notified that the Liberal High School, 1611 West 2nd Street, had been placed in lock down, according to a media release.

While investigating the incident it was discovered that an 18-year-old man, who had been expelled earlier this week for non violent reasons, had arrived back to the school. 

The school conducted the lock down as a precaution. The former student was located in the parking lot by an LPD officer and given a trespass warning.

Police released no additional details including the student's name.

SEWARD COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect following an incident at USD 480 in Liberal.Just before 1p.m. Wednesday, police were notified that the Liberal High School, 1611 West 2nd Street, had been placed in lock down, according to a media release.While investigating the incident it was discovered that an 18-year-old man, who had been expelled earlier this week for non violent reasons, had arrived back to the school. The school conducted the lock down as a precaution. The former student was located in the parking lot by an LPD officer and given a trespass warning.Police released no additional details including the student's name.

Kan. school locked down after expelled student returns to school

HAYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2018 death of his 4-month-old daughter. 

Television station KAKE reports that 36-year-old Andrew Franklin of Haysville pleaded no contest last month to the reduced charge and a single count of child abuse in the death of Brexley Grace Franklin. 

Andrew Franklin faces years in prison when he's sentenced June 6. Police say the baby girl died on Sept. 13, 2018, five days after she was admitted to a hospital suffering from a skull fracture, retinal hemorrhages and bruises to her jaw. 

Franklin was initially charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652281984749.png" alt="Franklin-photo Sedgwick Co." />
 <figcaption>Franklin-photo Sedgwick Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYSVILLE, Kan. (AP) — A southern Kansas man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the 2018 death of his 4-month-old daughter. Television station KAKE reports that 36-year-old Andrew Franklin of Haysville pleaded no contest last month to the reduced charge and a single count of child abuse in the death of Brexley Grace Franklin. Andrew Franklin faces years in prison when he's sentenced June 6. Police say the baby girl died on Sept. 13, 2018, five days after she was admitted to a hospital suffering from a skull fracture, retinal hemorrhages and bruises to her jaw. Franklin was initially charged with first-degree murder and two counts of child abuse.

Kan. man guilty in abuse death of 4-month-old daughter

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has failed vote in an effort toward enshrining Roe v. Wade abortion access into federal law. Wednesday's 51-49 negative vote almost along party lines provided a stark display of the nation’s partisan divide over the landmark court decision and the limits of legislative action.

Kansas senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said, " This legislation would have permitted unborn children to be terminated at any point for any reason. Additionally, this legislation would have eliminated conscience protections for health care providers who object to terminating human life and abolished state laws, such as waiting periods or requiring parental consent for minors to obtain an abortion. 

Not only is this legislation immoral, it is far outside the mainstream of American opinion and would have placed the United States alongside China and North Korea as outliers with the world’s most permissive abortion laws.”

 The afternoon roll call promised to be the first of several efforts in Congress to preserve the nearly 50-year-old court ruling. 

“This bill is the most egregious, horrific attack on the lives of unborn children and the health of moms in American history,”&nbsp;Senator Roger Marshall said.&nbsp;

"While the overturning of Roe vs Wade&nbsp;simply returns this emotional issue to the states, to the elected voice of the people, this bill would invalidate any and all state laws that protect the unborn child and the&nbsp;health and well-being of the mom," said Marshall.

President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass legislation that would guarantee the constitutional right to abortion services after the disclosure of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. But Democrats in the split Senate lacked the votes to overcome a Republican-led filibuster.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652301407219.png" alt="Senator Roger Marshall spoke prior to the Wednesday afternoon vote-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Senator Roger Marshall spoke prior to the Wednesday afternoon vote-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has failed vote in an effort toward enshrining Roe v. Wade abortion access into federal law. Wednesday's 51-49 negative vote almost along party lines provided a stark display of the nation’s partisan divide over the landmark court decision and the limits of legislative action.Kansas senior U.S. Senator Jerry Moran said, " This legislation would have permitted unborn children to be terminated at any point for any reason. Additionally, this legislation would have eliminated conscience protections for health care providers who object to terminating human life and abolished state laws, such as waiting periods or requiring parental consent for minors to obtain an abortion. Not only is this legislation immoral, it is far outside the mainstream of American opinion and would have placed the United States alongside China and North Korea as outliers with the world’s most permissive abortion laws.” The afternoon roll call promised to be the first of several efforts in Congress to preserve the nearly 50-year-old court ruling. “This bill is the most egregious, horrific attack on the lives of unborn children and the health of moms in American history,”&nbsp;Senator Roger Marshall said.&nbsp;<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kZ1rTVDANBQ?start=2" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>"While the overturning of Roe vs Wade&nbsp;simply returns this emotional issue to the states, to the elected voice of the people, this bill would invalidate any and all state laws that protect the unborn child and the&nbsp;health and well-being of the mom," said Marshall.President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass legislation that would guarantee the constitutional right to abortion services after the disclosure of a draft Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. But Democrats in the split Senate lacked the votes to overcome a Republican-led filibuster.

🎥Abortion vote: Effort to secure Roe v. Wade falls to filibuster

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, setting another tragic record in the nation’s escalating overdose epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated Wednesday.

The provisional 2021 total translates to roughly one U.S. overdose death every 5 minutes. It marked a 15% increase from the previous record, set the year before. The CDC reviews death certificates and then makes an estimate to account for delayed and incomplete reporting.

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the latest numbers “truly staggering.”

The White House issued a statement calling the accelerating pace of overdose deaths “unacceptable” and promoting its recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-health-medication-congress-e97c2b7ffb5bd8f79a8a1277a6b56588">national drug control strategy</a>. It calls for measures like connecting more people to treatment, disrupting drug trafficking and expanding access to the overdose-reversing medication naloxone.

U.S. overdose deaths have risen most years for more than two decades. The increase began in the 1990s with overdoses involving opioid painkillers, followed by waves of deaths led by other opioids like heroin and — most recently — illicit fentanyl.

Last year, overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids surpassed 71,000, up 23% from the year before. There also was a 23% increase in deaths involving cocaine and a 34% increase in deaths involving meth and other stimulants.

Overdose deaths are often attributed to more than one drug. Some people take multiple drugs and inexpensive fentanyl has been increasingly cut into other drugs, often without the buyers’ knowledge, officials say.

“The net effect is that we have many more people, including those who use drugs occasionally and even adolescents, exposed to these potent substances that can cause someone to overdose even with a relatively small exposure,” Volkow said in a statement.

Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem as lockdowns and other restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get.

Overdose death trends are geographically uneven. Alaska saw a 75% increase in 2021 — the largest jump of any state. In Hawaii, overdose deaths fell by 2%.

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, setting another tragic record in the nation’s escalating overdose epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated Wednesday.The provisional 2021 total translates to roughly one U.S. overdose death every 5 minutes. It marked a 15% increase from the previous record, set the year before. The CDC reviews death certificates and then makes an estimate to account for delayed and incomplete reporting.Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, called the latest numbers “truly staggering.”The White House issued a statement calling the accelerating pace of overdose deaths “unacceptable” and promoting its recently announced&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-science-health-medication-congress-e97c2b7ffb5bd8f79a8a1277a6b56588">national drug control strategy</a>. It calls for measures like connecting more people to treatment, disrupting drug trafficking and expanding access to the overdose-reversing medication naloxone.U.S. overdose deaths have risen most years for more than two decades. The increase began in the 1990s with overdoses involving opioid painkillers, followed by waves of deaths led by other opioids like heroin and — most recently — illicit fentanyl.Last year, overdoses involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids surpassed 71,000, up 23% from the year before. There also was a 23% increase in deaths involving cocaine and a 34% increase in deaths involving meth and other stimulants.Overdose deaths are often attributed to more than one drug. Some people take multiple drugs and inexpensive fentanyl has been increasingly cut into other drugs, often without the buyers’ knowledge, officials say.“The net effect is that we have many more people, including those who use drugs occasionally and even adolescents, exposed to these potent substances that can cause someone to overdose even with a relatively small exposure,” Volkow said in a statement.Experts say the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the problem as lockdowns and other restrictions isolated those with drug addictions and made treatment harder to get.Overdose death trends are geographically uneven. Alaska saw a 75% increase in 2021 — the largest jump of any state. In Hawaii, overdose deaths fell by 2%.

CDC: US overdose deaths hit record 107,000 last year

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden warned voters unhappy with soaring inflation and his stalled domestic agenda against turning power over to “ultra-MAGA” Republicans in the midterm elections as he increasingly tries to cast former President Donald Trump and his adherents as a political foil.

(Click below to listen to the President's comments)

Speaking at the White House less than six months before the elections, Biden acknowledged that he could “taste” the country’s dissatisfaction with Washington, particularly over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-united-states-economy-layoffs-prices-85ee014b63a7000ed0bd08878d9d4b20">rising prices,</a>&nbsp;but he sought to channel the anger against the GOP.

“Look, I know you’ve got to be frustrated,” he said. “I know, I can taste it. Frustrated by high prices, by gridlock in Congress, by the time it takes to get anything done.

“The MAGA Republicans are counting on you to be as frustrated by the pace of progress, which they’ve done everything they can to slow down, that you will hand power over to them ... so they can enact their extreme agenda,” Biden said.

Biden’s branding of his opposition as “ultra-MAGA Republicans” — a reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan — has emerged as a White House trope in recent weeks as the White House hopes for a pre-midterms reset for Democrats, who face stiff headwinds heading into the November elections. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that “it’s the president’s phrase.”

It is a message seemingly aimed directly at the listless and divided base of Biden’s own party, as Democrats struggle to keep their voters motivated, as well as at some moderate voters who still recoil at the memory of Trump’s tumultuous tenure in office.

“Look, I think Biden needs to motivate his base ahead of the midterms. And nothing motivates Democrats like voting against Trump,” said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “Trump’s not on the ballot this fall. But Biden is going to try to convince voters that he is.”

“They’re not going to run on his record. They’re not going to make big, bold policy promises,” he said, so that leaves villainizing the opponent “and the best way to do that is to tie him to Trump.”

For Democrats, who have unified control of Washington, running against the minority party is risky, as even Biden acknowledged that voters tend to blame those in control for the nation’s state of affairs.

But the White House believes Republicans have thrown them a lifeline, in the form of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-florida-donald-trump-congress-46e4862dfe2709e0408f56551c999968">GOP Sen. Rick Scott’s 11-point plan</a>, released in late February, that would impose a modest tax increase on many of the lowest-paid Americans, while opening the door for cutting Social Security and Medicare.

The plan, meant as a draft governing agenda for when the GOP retakes power, has been rejected by many Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. But that is not stopping Biden and Democrats from trying to tie Republicans to it more broadly. Scott, R-Fla., is the chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm and a member of Senate GOP leadership.

“That’s a plan in writing and he’s in the leadership,” Biden said.

Biden argued that the potential tax hikes would make it even harder for families struggling with inflation to afford food, housing and transportation, as prices rise at the fastest pace in four decades.

“I want every American to know that I’m taking inflation very seriously, and it’s my top domestic priority,” Biden said.

Scott fired back in comments Tuesday, calling on Biden to resign, and deeming him “unfit” for the job.

“I have a plan. I mean, it’s real simple,” he told reporters. “I put out my ideas and how we need to rescue this country. He doesn’t have a plan. And you didn’t hear any ideas today. I mean, he says he was going to come up with his ideas and fix inflation.”

In recent days, the White House has extended the “ultra-MAGA” label to broader criticism of Republicans on other matters, including the push to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion established in the Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court.

Biden believes most general election voters haven’t yet tuned in to the midterms and are missing what it views as “extreme” positions taken by GOP candidates and lawmakers, particularly in primaries, according to two people familiar with the White House’s thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. They said the president’s new branding for Republicans is meant to spotlight candidates and policies that may energize the GOP’s grassroots but that he believes are out of step with the majority of voters, sharpening the choice facing voters this November.

Speaking Monday night at a Democratic fundraiser, Biden tested out the “ultra-MAGA” messaging with donors, referencing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ moves to restrict some textbooks from being used in the classroom and Scott’s plan to require regular congressional reauthorization of social safety net programs.

“This is not your father’s Republican Party,” Biden said. This is a MAGA party. This is the MAGA party. And the head of their Republican campaign committee, Senator Rick Scott, the Ultra-MAGA agenda he put forward, he raises taxes on 70 million people who make well less than $100,000.”

On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was echoing Biden’s line as he pushed for Congress to enshrine abortion rights into law.

“Now the MAGA Republicans have taken over,” he said. “If MAGA Republicans get their way, pregnant women can lose their lives because there will be no exception if the life of the mother is at risk.”

John Anzalone, a Democratic pollster who has worked for Biden, said it’s important to draw sharp contrasts with political opponents.”

“Whether you’re in a governor’s race in Michigan or you’re in a Senate race in New Hampshire, those contrasts become really important, because it’s good for voters to know what each side stands for,” he said. “You’re talking to swing voters, without a doubt, because at the end of the day, independents, swing voters, moderates can make or break a cycle for Democrats and Republicans.”

Speaking Tuesday, Biden, who ran for office aiming to heal the nation’s divisions, said, “I never expected the ultra-MAGA Republicans who seem to control the Republican Party now to have been able to control the Republican Party. I never anticipated that happening.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden warned voters unhappy with soaring inflation and his stalled domestic agenda against turning power over to “ultra-MAGA” Republicans in the midterm elections as he increasingly tries to cast former President Donald Trump and his adherents as a political foil.(Click below to listen to the President's comments)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fvideos%2F1350686248776483%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=1237" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Speaking at the White House less than six months before the elections, Biden acknowledged that he could “taste” the country’s dissatisfaction with Washington, particularly over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-united-states-economy-layoffs-prices-85ee014b63a7000ed0bd08878d9d4b20">rising prices,</a>&nbsp;but he sought to channel the anger against the GOP.“Look, I know you’ve got to be frustrated,” he said. “I know, I can taste it. Frustrated by high prices, by gridlock in Congress, by the time it takes to get anything done.“The MAGA Republicans are counting on you to be as frustrated by the pace of progress, which they’ve done everything they can to slow down, that you will hand power over to them ... so they can enact their extreme agenda,” Biden said.Biden’s branding of his opposition as “ultra-MAGA Republicans” — a reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan — has emerged as a White House trope in recent weeks as the White House hopes for a pre-midterms reset for Democrats, who face stiff headwinds heading into the November elections. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that “it’s the president’s phrase.”It is a message seemingly aimed directly at the listless and divided base of Biden’s own party, as Democrats struggle to keep their voters motivated, as well as at some moderate voters who still recoil at the memory of Trump’s tumultuous tenure in office.“Look, I think Biden needs to motivate his base ahead of the midterms. And nothing motivates Democrats like voting against Trump,” said GOP strategist Alex Conant. “Trump’s not on the ballot this fall. But Biden is going to try to convince voters that he is.”Biden, Conant argued, has little choice.“They’re not going to run on his record. They’re not going to make big, bold policy promises,” he said, so that leaves villainizing the opponent “and the best way to do that is to tie him to Trump.”<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FWhiteHouse%2Fposts%2F317494653897995&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="648" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>For Democrats, who have unified control of Washington, running against the minority party is risky, as even Biden acknowledged that voters tend to blame those in control for the nation’s state of affairs.But the White House believes Republicans have thrown them a lifeline, in the form of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-florida-donald-trump-congress-46e4862dfe2709e0408f56551c999968">GOP Sen. Rick Scott’s 11-point plan</a>, released in late February, that would impose a modest tax increase on many of the lowest-paid Americans, while opening the door for cutting Social Security and Medicare.The plan, meant as a draft governing agenda for when the GOP retakes power, has been rejected by many Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. But that is not stopping Biden and Democrats from trying to tie Republicans to it more broadly. Scott, R-Fla., is the chairman of the Senate Republicans’ campaign arm and a member of Senate GOP leadership.“That’s a plan in writing and he’s in the leadership,” Biden said.Biden argued that the potential tax hikes would make it even harder for families struggling with inflation to afford food, housing and transportation, as prices rise at the fastest pace in four decades.“I want every American to know that I’m taking inflation very seriously, and it’s my top domestic priority,” Biden said.Scott fired back in comments Tuesday, calling on Biden to resign, and deeming him “unfit” for the job.“I have a plan. I mean, it’s real simple,” he told reporters. “I put out my ideas and how we need to rescue this country. He doesn’t have a plan. And you didn’t hear any ideas today. I mean, he says he was going to come up with his ideas and fix inflation.”In recent days, the White House has extended the “ultra-MAGA” label to broader criticism of Republicans on other matters, including the push to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion established in the Roe v. Wade decision of the Supreme Court.Biden believes most general election voters haven’t yet tuned in to the midterms and are missing what it views as “extreme” positions taken by GOP candidates and lawmakers, particularly in primaries, according to two people familiar with the White House’s thinking who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. They said the president’s new branding for Republicans is meant to spotlight candidates and policies that may energize the GOP’s grassroots but that he believes are out of step with the majority of voters, sharpening the choice facing voters this November.Speaking Monday night at a Democratic fundraiser, Biden tested out the “ultra-MAGA” messaging with donors, referencing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ moves to restrict some textbooks from being used in the classroom and Scott’s plan to require regular congressional reauthorization of social safety net programs.“This is not your father’s Republican Party,” Biden said. This is a MAGA party. This is the MAGA party. And the head of their Republican campaign committee, Senator Rick Scott, the Ultra-MAGA agenda he put forward, he raises taxes on 70 million people who make well less than $100,000.”On Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was echoing Biden’s line as he pushed for Congress to enshrine abortion rights into law.“Now the MAGA Republicans have taken over,” he said. “If MAGA Republicans get their way, pregnant women can lose their lives because there will be no exception if the life of the mother is at risk.”John Anzalone, a Democratic pollster who has worked for Biden, said it’s important to draw sharp contrasts with political opponents.”“Whether you’re in a governor’s race in Michigan or you’re in a Senate race in New Hampshire, those contrasts become really important, because it’s good for voters to know what each side stands for,” he said. “You’re talking to swing voters, without a doubt, because at the end of the day, independents, swing voters, moderates can make or break a cycle for Democrats and Republicans.”Speaking Tuesday, Biden, who ran for office aiming to heal the nation’s divisions, said, “I never expected the ultra-MAGA Republicans who seem to control the Republican Party now to have been able to control the Republican Party. I never anticipated that happening.”

🎥Pres. Biden: I know you are frustrated by high prices

TRENTON, S.C. (AP) — A 60-year-old man who strangled his girlfriend died of a heart attack while burying her body in their South Carolina backyard, investigators said.

Deputies found Joseph Anthony McKinnon’s body Saturday after neighbors called and reported an unconscious man in a yard in Trenton, the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

As they investigated McKinnon’s death, deputies found a body wrapped in trash bags in a freshly dug hole and determined it was his girlfriend, Patricia Ruth Dent, 65, investigators said.

An autopsy on Dent determined she had been strangled and neighbors told officers they saw McKinnon digging a hole in his yard the day before, deputies said.

An autopsy on McKinnon determined he died of a heart attack. Deputies said it appeared he was nearly done filling the grave when he set the shovel down, walked away and collapsed.

<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560127290802.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSTRENTON, S.C. (AP) — A 60-year-old man who strangled his girlfriend died of a heart attack while burying her body in their South Carolina backyard, investigators said.Deputies found Joseph Anthony McKinnon’s body Saturday after neighbors called and reported an unconscious man in a yard in Trenton, the Edgefield County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.As they investigated McKinnon’s death, deputies found a body wrapped in trash bags in a freshly dug hole and determined it was his girlfriend, Patricia Ruth Dent, 65, investigators said.An autopsy on Dent determined she had been strangled and neighbors told officers they saw McKinnon digging a hole in his yard the day before, deputies said.An autopsy on McKinnon determined he died of a heart attack. Deputies said it appeared he was nearly done filling the grave when he set the shovel down, walked away and collapsed.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/zTnQ8OuQIphAaZUWlRMdnVBYQUH5UIV3NBeD4sIMYDxjQ9CokSXARyIU_ZvOtCsKDbYZ7prP_RhYcjylEsOFsIslgTnnhaSA4w-RhIIFP-BUJpfRh6Bkh_iQ89m4RBAzbvrXa4xYHVIsfgeZ5w" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Authorities: Man dies while burying woman he strangled

By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/10/pillen-snatches-victory-from-trump-pick-herbster-in-nebraskas-gop-gubernatorial-primary/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Former Husker defensive back Jim Pillen knows how to pull victory 
from the clutches of defeat. He did it in 1978, recovering a fumble to 
help Nebraska beat Oklahoma.

He
 did it again Tuesday, snatching Nebraska’s GOP nomination for governor 
from Charles Herbster, the primary race favorite who had been endorsed 
by former President Donald Trump.

Pillen
 notched a narrow win with help from much of the state’s Republican 
establishment, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov. Kay Orr, and 
Pillen’s former coach and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne. 

The
 University of Nebraska regent had 33% of the vote as of midnight. 
Herbster, the CEO of Conklin Co., was second with about 30%. State Sen. 
Brett Lindstrom was running third with about 26%.&nbsp;

“It’s been an extraordinary journey,” Pillen said Tuesday night, speaking at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln.
He thanked Ricketts, who responded from the crowd, shouting, “You’re gonna be a great governor, Jim.”
Pillen says his top priority is helping young Nebraskans know “the grass
 is greenest in Nebraska” and said he will work daily to help kids get 
the education and training they need.

He said he will be the first farmer in the 
governor’s mansion in about a century. It is important, he said, that 
Republicans come together on Wednesday to work together and make 
Nebraska the best place to live.

“I love public service. I love making a difference,” Pillen said. “You know, I’m guilty. I love Nebraska.”

Pillen, speaking to state senators, said, “Together, we are going to carry it across and end abortion in Nebraska.”

Herbster called the race one of the “nastiest campaigns for governor in the country.”

“That’s sad,” he said, adding that it likely played “a very, very significant role in the results.”

“This is what I’ve said all along, this was in God’s hands,” Herbster added.&nbsp;“I don’t know the reason. There is a reason.”

His concession speech at the Lincoln Grand 
Station was spiced with many thanks to campaign workers and supporters, 
including Corey Lewandowski, who called it a “dirty, nasty campaign.”

One Herbster supporter, Lt.&nbsp;Gov. Mike Foley,
 said he was puzzled by Tuesday’s voting. Recent polling, he said, had 
Herbster winning, but that didn’t happen.

“I’m surprised,” said Foley, who easily won the GOP primary to reclaim his old job as state auditor.

Lindstrom thanked the crowd gathered at A View on State in northwest Omaha. “I want to take it in for just a minute.”

His campaign took him to all of Nebraska’s 93 counties in his quest to take the governor’s seat, he said.

“We put in the work,” he told his supporters. “Who knows what the future holds, right?”

“I hope he doesn’t give up. I hope this 
isn’t the end,” said Lindstrom supporter Emily Oxley. She and another 
Lindstrom friend, Tara Chickinell, refused to sulk and stuck around 
after race had been called.

As the last few party-goers left, Lindstrom 
said in an interview that he plans to “take a little break,” spend time 
with his wife and kids and figure out his next moves.

“We’ll reassess and see what the future holds,” Lindstrom said.
Tuesday night was the first time he had gotten to visit with many good 
friends, he said, as he’s been campaigning so much in every county of 
the state. He said he owes his wife a few trips.

He congratulated Pillen and said he will 
endorse him, despite the negative comments along the way. “It’s part of 
politics,” he said, taking the high road.

Pillen
 won by campaigning in small groups across the state, hosting more than 
400 events in all 93 counties, including about 30 hosted by the Nebraska
 Farm Bureau.

At
 those events, including one in North Platte, he handed out his policy 
prescription, the “Pillen Playbook.” He stressed the need to educate and
 keep young people in the state.

He also proposed capping school spending growth so state property tax relief funds make a bigger dent.

His
 campaign offered Christian conservatives safe harbor from Herbster 
controversies over late tax payments and allegations of groping by eight
 women.&nbsp;

Pillen
 kept his campaign advertising positive early in the campaign but hit 
back later after facing attacks from Herbster on his environmental 
impact as a farmer and his voting record as an NU regent.

Pillen
 also benefited from Ricketts and other Pillen supporters running 
negative third-party ads against Herbster and Lindstrom, questioning 
where Herbster lives and criticizing him for doing business 
out-of-state. Other ads hammered Lindstrom’s record on his voting 
record.&nbsp;

This
 fall, with twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats, Pillen 
will be the favorite against State Sen. Carol Blood, who won the 
Democratic primary race Tuesday. 

Blood said Tuesday that voters are “sick and
 tired of the negative political rhetoric and business as usual coming 
from the Republican Party.”

“Nebraskans are ready for NEW BLOOD to 
create effective change and grow our state in a direction that makes it a
 place where people of all ages — no matter what they look like or what 
is in their bank account — can count on a better and more prosperous 
future,”&nbsp;Blood said in a statement. “Every Nebraskan has a voice and 
deserves a seat at the table, that is exactly what I will do as the next
 governor.”

Pillen
 won the election by eclipsing Herbster’s support in many parts of 
Nebraska’s sprawling, largely rural 3rd Congressional District, which 
often decides open primaries for governor with higher turnout.

Pillen
 cemented his advantage in the smaller cities and rural areas of the 1st
 Congressional District, including Columbus, where Pillen lives and runs
 a massive hog operation.

Pillen
 outperformed what was expected of him in Lancaster County, which 
includes Lincoln. While he trailed Lindstrom and Herbster in Douglas 
County, he beat both of them in Lancaster County.

The
 three top contenders emerged from nine GOP candidates, including former
 State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, who finished fourth with 6% of the vote.

In
 the end, it may have been Pillen’s investment of time and money in 
campaign foot soldiers in 93 counties that helped him turn out enough of
 his voters to win.

Nebraska&nbsp;Examiner senior reporters Paul Hammel and Cindy Gonzalez&nbsp;contributed to this report.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652285790150.png" alt="Jim Pillen addresses his supporters at Embassy Suites in Lincoln after winning the Republican nomination for Nebraska governor. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Jim Pillen addresses his supporters at Embassy Suites in Lincoln after winning the Republican nomination for Nebraska governor. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By AARON SANDERFORD <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/10/pillen-snatches-victory-from-trump-pick-herbster-in-nebraskas-gop-gubernatorial-primary/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Former Husker defensive back Jim Pillen knows how to pull victory 
from the clutches of defeat. He did it in 1978, recovering a fumble to 
help Nebraska beat Oklahoma.He
 did it again Tuesday, snatching Nebraska’s GOP nomination for governor 
from Charles Herbster, the primary race favorite who had been endorsed 
by former President Donald Trump.Pillen
 notched a narrow win with help from much of the state’s Republican 
establishment, including Gov. Pete Ricketts, former Gov. Kay Orr, and 
Pillen’s former coach and U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne. The
 University of Nebraska regent had 33% of the vote as of midnight. 
Herbster, the CEO of Conklin Co., was second with about 30%. State Sen. 
Brett Lindstrom was running third with about 26%.&nbsp;“It’s been an extraordinary journey,” Pillen said Tuesday night, speaking at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Lincoln.
He thanked Ricketts, who responded from the crowd, shouting, “You’re gonna be a great governor, Jim.”
Pillen says his top priority is helping young Nebraskans know “the grass
 is greenest in Nebraska” and said he will work daily to help kids get 
the education and training they need.He said he will be the first farmer in the 
governor’s mansion in about a century. It is important, he said, that 
Republicans come together on Wednesday to work together and make 
Nebraska the best place to live.“I love public service. I love making a difference,” Pillen said. “You know, I’m guilty. I love Nebraska.”Pillen, speaking to state senators, said, “Together, we are going to carry it across and end abortion in Nebraska.”Herbster called the race one of the “nastiest campaigns for governor in the country.”“That’s sad,” he said, adding that it likely played “a very, very significant role in the results.”“This is what I’ve said all along, this was in God’s hands,” Herbster added.&nbsp;“I don’t know the reason. There is a reason.”His concession speech at the Lincoln Grand 
Station was spiced with many thanks to campaign workers and supporters, 
including Corey Lewandowski, who called it a “dirty, nasty campaign.”One Herbster supporter, Lt.&nbsp;Gov. Mike Foley,
 said he was puzzled by Tuesday’s voting. Recent polling, he said, had 
Herbster winning, but that didn’t happen.“I’m surprised,” said Foley, who easily won the GOP primary to reclaim his old job as state auditor.Lindstrom thanked the crowd gathered at A View on State in northwest Omaha. “I want to take it in for just a minute.”His campaign took him to all of Nebraska’s 93 counties in his quest to take the governor’s seat, he said.“We put in the work,” he told his supporters. “Who knows what the future holds, right?”“I hope he doesn’t give up. I hope this 
isn’t the end,” said Lindstrom supporter Emily Oxley. She and another 
Lindstrom friend, Tara Chickinell, refused to sulk and stuck around 
after race had been called.As the last few party-goers left, Lindstrom 
said in an interview that he plans to “take a little break,” spend time 
with his wife and kids and figure out his next moves.“We’ll reassess and see what the future holds,” Lindstrom said.
Tuesday night was the first time he had gotten to visit with many good 
friends, he said, as he’s been campaigning so much in every county of 
the state. He said he owes his wife a few trips.He congratulated Pillen and said he will 
endorse him, despite the negative comments along the way. “It’s part of 
politics,” he said, taking the high road.<h2>Events in every county</h2>Pillen
 won by campaigning in small groups across the state, hosting more than 
400 events in all 93 counties, including about 30 hosted by the Nebraska
 Farm Bureau.At
 those events, including one in North Platte, he handed out his policy 
prescription, the “Pillen Playbook.” He stressed the need to educate and
 keep young people in the state.He also proposed capping school spending growth so state property tax relief funds make a bigger dent.His
 campaign offered Christian conservatives safe harbor from Herbster 
controversies over late tax payments and allegations of groping by eight
 women.&nbsp;<h2>Negative third-party ads</h2>Pillen
 kept his campaign advertising positive early in the campaign but hit 
back later after facing attacks from Herbster on his environmental 
impact as a farmer and his voting record as an NU regent.Pillen
 also benefited from Ricketts and other Pillen supporters running 
negative third-party ads against Herbster and Lindstrom, questioning 
where Herbster lives and criticizing him for doing business 
out-of-state. Other ads hammered Lindstrom’s record on his voting 
record.&nbsp;This
 fall, with twice as many registered Republicans as Democrats, Pillen 
will be the favorite against State Sen. Carol Blood, who won the 
Democratic primary race Tuesday. Blood said Tuesday that voters are “sick and
 tired of the negative political rhetoric and business as usual coming 
from the Republican Party.”“Nebraskans are ready for NEW BLOOD to 
create effective change and grow our state in a direction that makes it a
 place where people of all ages — no matter what they look like or what 
is in their bank account — can count on a better and more prosperous 
future,”&nbsp;Blood said in a statement. “Every Nebraskan has a voice and 
deserves a seat at the table, that is exactly what I will do as the next
 governor.”Pillen
 won the election by eclipsing Herbster’s support in many parts of 
Nebraska’s sprawling, largely rural 3rd Congressional District, which 
often decides open primaries for governor with higher turnout.<h2>Smaller cities, rural areas</h2>Pillen
 cemented his advantage in the smaller cities and rural areas of the 1st
 Congressional District, including Columbus, where Pillen lives and runs
 a massive hog operation.Pillen
 outperformed what was expected of him in Lancaster County, which 
includes Lincoln. While he trailed Lindstrom and Herbster in Douglas 
County, he beat both of them in Lancaster County.The
 three top contenders emerged from nine GOP candidates, including former
 State Sen. Theresa Thibodeau, who finished fourth with 6% of the vote.In
 the end, it may have been Pillen’s investment of time and money in 
campaign foot soldiers in 93 counties that helped him turn out enough of
 his voters to win.Nebraska&nbsp;Examiner senior reporters Paul Hammel and Cindy Gonzalez&nbsp;contributed to this report.

Pillen snatches victory from Herbster in Neb. GOP gubernatorial primary

By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/evnen-fends-off-two-challengers-to-win-gop-primary-for-secretary-of-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN
 — Secretary of State Bob Evnen fended off two challengers in Tuesday’s 
Republican primary who claimed that widespread voter fraud cost Donald 
Trump the 2020 election.

Evnen claimed 44% of the vote in 
unofficial results late Tuesday night, outdistancing his GOP rivals, 
Robert Borer and Rex Schroder, who polled 32% and 24%, respectively.

The victory means that Evnen, a 
69-year-old attorney from Lincoln, likely will win a second term. No 
Democrats filed to run for the post this year.

“I
 am grateful to Nebraska Republicans for putting their trust in me,” 
Evnen said in a statement Tuesday night. “I will continue to work to 
secure our elections and to perform the many other responsibilities of 
the office.”&nbsp;

Both Borer, a retired Lincoln 
firefighter, and Schroder, a small business owner from Palmyra, had 
based their campaign largely on <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/06/evnen-faces-two-challengers-in-gop-primary-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state/">claims that the state’s vote-counting machines have been compromised</a>
 and that fraudulent voting had occurred under Evnen’s watch. Both 
questioned whether Joe Biden had truly won an electoral vote in 
Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where he outpolled Trump by more 
than 22,000 votes.

But Evnen, a former general 
counsel for the Nebraska Republican Party, maintained that he had fully 
investigated all the claims by Borer, Schroder and a group called the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project and found no validity to any of them.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652285531811.png" alt="Signs wait for pickup at the Nebraska Republican Party headquarters in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Signs wait for pickup at the Nebraska Republican Party headquarters in Lincoln. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>By PAUL HAMMEL <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/evnen-fends-off-two-challengers-to-win-gop-primary-for-secretary-of-state/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN
 — Secretary of State Bob Evnen fended off two challengers in Tuesday’s 
Republican primary who claimed that widespread voter fraud cost Donald 
Trump the 2020 election.Evnen claimed 44% of the vote in 
unofficial results late Tuesday night, outdistancing his GOP rivals, 
Robert Borer and Rex Schroder, who polled 32% and 24%, respectively.The victory means that Evnen, a 
69-year-old attorney from Lincoln, likely will win a second term. No 
Democrats filed to run for the post this year.“I
 am grateful to Nebraska Republicans for putting their trust in me,” 
Evnen said in a statement Tuesday night. “I will continue to work to 
secure our elections and to perform the many other responsibilities of 
the office.”&nbsp;Both Borer, a retired Lincoln 
firefighter, and Schroder, a small business owner from Palmyra, had 
based their campaign largely on <a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/05/06/evnen-faces-two-challengers-in-gop-primary-for-nebraska-secretary-of-state/">claims that the state’s vote-counting machines have been compromised</a>
 and that fraudulent voting had occurred under Evnen’s watch. Both 
questioned whether Joe Biden had truly won an electoral vote in 
Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, where he outpolled Trump by more 
than 22,000 votes.But Evnen, a former general 
counsel for the Nebraska Republican Party, maintained that he had fully 
investigated all the claims by Borer, Schroder and a group called the 
Nebraska Voter Accuracy Project and found no validity to any of them.

Evnen fends off two challengers to win GOP primary for secretary of state

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating two separate homicides that occurred in Kansas City, Kansas on Mother's Day have identified the victims.

Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in the 200 Block of North 27th Street. They found 33-year-old Marcus M. Johnson with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.

Less than 30 minutes later,&nbsp; police responded to a shooting in the 7300 Block of State Avenue where they found the body of 28-year-old DeMonte Allen. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both victims are residents of Kansas City, Kansas.

Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement authorities investigating two separate homicides that occurred in Kansas City, Kansas on Mother's Day have identified the victims.Just before 9p.m. Sunday, police responded to a shooting in the 200 Block of North 27th Street. They found 33-year-old Marcus M. Johnson with gunshot wounds, according to a media release. EMS transported him to a local hospital where he died.Less than 30 minutes later,&nbsp; police responded to a shooting in the 7300 Block of State Avenue where they found the body of 28-year-old DeMonte Allen. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Both victims are residents of Kansas City, Kansas.Police released no additional details and have not reported an arrest.

Police ID victims in 2 separate homicides in KC on Mother's Day

WAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — Fire authorities say one person died and several others were left without a home in a fire that gutted a southeastern Nebraska apartment building. 

The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says in a news release that firefighters and deputies were called late Tuesday night to Waverly for a fire at the Northland Apartments. 

Officials say the fire began in a single apartment and spread to other units in the building. 

Authorities said fire crews later found the body of 61-year-old Mark Umland in the unit where the fire originated. 

Fire officials said all eight units of the building suffered fire, smoke or water damage, displacing 20 people.

 The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648763815008.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSWAVERLY, Neb. (AP) — Fire authorities say one person died and several others were left without a home in a fire that gutted a southeastern Nebraska apartment building. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office says in a news release that firefighters and deputies were called late Tuesday night to Waverly for a fire at the Northland Apartments. Officials say the fire began in a single apartment and spread to other units in the building. Authorities said fire crews later found the body of 61-year-old Mark Umland in the unit where the fire originated. Fire officials said all eight units of the building suffered fire, smoke or water damage, displacing 20 people. The Nebraska State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause of the fire.<a href="https://northplattepost.com/posts/2ddcec21-000f-4ace-b19e-4250120d6629">&nbsp;&nbsp;Download The Post app for iOs or Android</a><figure>
 <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MnRSBofDYuiZOZAu1ZhHqVv7XpkmZ6Owjg-pVxB0nIecr_-T10Xf3rbhTY9o_4UEXvLLwX0Ri6Euk6su66W8RADG7I5MWcf7lytd59AcfQI0zEwVFU5gCFhOpnUi26Es1T1fiNc5Qb3bsZDB4g" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

1 dead, 8 households displaced in Nebraska apartment fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents in Nebraska and across the U.S. are scrambling to find baby formula because supply disruptions and a massive safety recall have swept many leading brands off store shelves.

Months of spot shortages at pharmacies and supermarkets have been exacerbated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-sturgis-a44d06262482d776ae465e0d22382d2d">the recall</a>&nbsp;at Abbott, which was forced to shutter its largest U.S. formula manufacturing plant in February due to contamination concerns.

On Monday, White House press secretary Jenn Psaki said the Food and Drug Administration was “working around the clock to address any possible shortages” and will try to expedite imports of foreign baby formula to increase supply.

For now, pediatricians and health workers are urging parents who can’t find formula to contact food banks or doctor’s offices. They warn against watering down formula to stretch supplies or using online DIY recipes.

“For babies who are not being breastfed, this is the only thing they eat,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, of the University of Texas, Austin. “So it has to have all of their nutrition and, furthermore, it needs to be properly prepared so that it’s safe for the smallest infants.”

Laura Stewart, a 52-year-old mother of three who lives just north of Springfield, Missouri, has been struggling for several weeks to find formula for her 10-month-old daughter, Riley.

Riley normally gets a brand of Abbott’s Similac designed for children with sensitive stomachs. Last month, she instead used four different brands.

“She spits up more. She’s just more cranky. She is typically a very happy girl,” Hughes said. “When she has the right formula, she doesn’t spit up. She’s perfectly fine.”

A small can costs $17 to $18 and lasts three to five days, Stewart said.

Like many Americans, Hughes relies on WIC — a federal program similar to food stamps that serves mothers and children — to afford formula for her daughter. Abbott’s recall wiped out many WIC-covered brands, though the program is now allowing substitutions.

Trying to keep formula in stock, retailers including CVS and Walgreens have begun limiting purchases to three containers per customer.

Nationwide about 40% of big box stores are out of stock, up from 31% in mid-April, according to Datasembly, a data analytics firm. More than half of U.S. states are seeing out-of-stock rates between 40% and 50%, according to the firm, which collects data from 11,000 locations.

Baby formula is particularly vulnerable to disruptions because just a handful of companies account for almost the entire U.S. supply.

Industry executives say the constraints began last year as the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in ingredients, labor and transportation. Supplies were further squeezed by parents stockpiling during lockdowns.

Then in February, Abbott recalled several major brands and shut down its Sturgis, Michigan, factory when federal officials concluded four babies suffered bacterial infections after consuming formula from the facility. Two of the infants died.

When FDA inspectors visited the plant in March they found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-a4205025fc781b1fb902cdd9e1264b41">lax safety protocols&nbsp;</a>and traces of the bacteria on several surfaces. None of the bacterial strains matched those collected from the infants, however, and the FDA hasn’t offered an explanation for how the contamination occurred.

For its part, Abbott says its formula “is not likely the source of infection,” though the FDA says its investigation continues.

The shortages are especially dangerous for infants who require specialty formulas due to food allergies, digestive problems and other conditions.

“Unfortunately, many of those very specialized formulas are only made in the United States at the factory that had the recall, and that’s caused a huge problem for a relatively small number of infants,” Abrams said.

After hearing concerns from parents, the FDA said last month that Abbott could begin releasing some specialty formulas not affected by the recalls “on a case-by-case basis.” The company is providing them free of charge, in coordination with physicians and hospitals.

Food safety advocates say the FDA made the right call in releasing the formula, but that parents should talk to their pediatricians before using it.

“There’s still some risk from the formula because we know there are problems at the plant and FDA hasn’t identified a root cause,” said Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. ”But it’s worth releasing because these infants might die without it.”

It’s unclear when the Abbott plant might reopen.

An FDA spokeswoman said the company is still working “to rectify findings related to the processes, procedures, and conditions.” The agency also is working with other manufacturers to consider options for increasing production.

Industry professionals say it will be hard to boost supply quickly, because the FDA requires extensive testing, labeling and inspections.

“It’s a long and rigorous process to bring any new manufacturers into this country,” said Ron Belldegrun, co-founder of ByHeart, a New York-based specialty formula maker that recently launched its first product after four years in development.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648164055231.png" alt="In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image" />
 <figcaption>In February Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers announced a recall of Similac-FDA image</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents in Nebraska and across the U.S. are scrambling to find baby formula because supply disruptions and a massive safety recall have swept many leading brands off store shelves.Months of spot shortages at pharmacies and supermarkets have been exacerbated by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-sturgis-a44d06262482d776ae465e0d22382d2d">the recall</a>&nbsp;at Abbott, which was forced to shutter its largest U.S. formula manufacturing plant in February due to contamination concerns.On Monday, White House press secretary Jenn Psaki said the Food and Drug Administration was “working around the clock to address any possible shortages” and will try to expedite imports of foreign baby formula to increase supply.For now, pediatricians and health workers are urging parents who can’t find formula to contact food banks or doctor’s offices. They warn against watering down formula to stretch supplies or using online DIY recipes.“For babies who are not being breastfed, this is the only thing they eat,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, of the University of Texas, Austin. “So it has to have all of their nutrition and, furthermore, it needs to be properly prepared so that it’s safe for the smallest infants.”Laura Stewart, a 52-year-old mother of three who lives just north of Springfield, Missouri, has been struggling for several weeks to find formula for her 10-month-old daughter, Riley.Riley normally gets a brand of Abbott’s Similac designed for children with sensitive stomachs. Last month, she instead used four different brands.“She spits up more. She’s just more cranky. She is typically a very happy girl,” Hughes said. “When she has the right formula, she doesn’t spit up. She’s perfectly fine.”A small can costs $17 to $18 and lasts three to five days, Stewart said.Like many Americans, Hughes relies on WIC — a federal program similar to food stamps that serves mothers and children — to afford formula for her daughter. Abbott’s recall wiped out many WIC-covered brands, though the program is now allowing substitutions.Trying to keep formula in stock, retailers including CVS and Walgreens have begun limiting purchases to three containers per customer.Nationwide about 40% of big box stores are out of stock, up from 31% in mid-April, according to Datasembly, a data analytics firm. More than half of U.S. states are seeing out-of-stock rates between 40% and 50%, according to the firm, which collects data from 11,000 locations.Baby formula is particularly vulnerable to disruptions because just a handful of companies account for almost the entire U.S. supply.Industry executives say the constraints began last year as the COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in ingredients, labor and transportation. Supplies were further squeezed by parents stockpiling during lockdowns.Then in February, Abbott recalled several major brands and shut down its Sturgis, Michigan, factory when federal officials concluded four babies suffered bacterial infections after consuming formula from the facility. Two of the infants died.When FDA inspectors visited the plant in March they found&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/science-business-health-michigan-a4205025fc781b1fb902cdd9e1264b41">lax safety protocols&nbsp;</a>and traces of the bacteria on several surfaces. None of the bacterial strains matched those collected from the infants, however, and the FDA hasn’t offered an explanation for how the contamination occurred.For its part, Abbott says its formula “is not likely the source of infection,” though the FDA says its investigation continues.The shortages are especially dangerous for infants who require specialty formulas due to food allergies, digestive problems and other conditions.“Unfortunately, many of those very specialized formulas are only made in the United States at the factory that had the recall, and that’s caused a huge problem for a relatively small number of infants,” Abrams said.After hearing concerns from parents, the FDA said last month that Abbott could begin releasing some specialty formulas not affected by the recalls “on a case-by-case basis.” The company is providing them free of charge, in coordination with physicians and hospitals.Food safety advocates say the FDA made the right call in releasing the formula, but that parents should talk to their pediatricians before using it.“There’s still some risk from the formula because we know there are problems at the plant and FDA hasn’t identified a root cause,” said Sarah Sorscher of the Center for Science in the Public Interest. ”But it’s worth releasing because these infants might die without it.”It’s unclear when the Abbott plant might reopen.An FDA spokeswoman said the company is still working “to rectify findings related to the processes, procedures, and conditions.” The agency also is working with other manufacturers to consider options for increasing production.Industry professionals say it will be hard to boost supply quickly, because the FDA requires extensive testing, labeling and inspections.“It’s a long and rigorous process to bring any new manufacturers into this country,” said Ron Belldegrun, co-founder of ByHeart, a New York-based specialty formula maker that recently launched its first product after four years in development.

Parents in Nebraska hunting for baby formula due to supply shortage 

LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk said he will reverse Twitter’s permanent ban of former President Donald Trump if the Tesla CEO follows through with his plan to buy the social media company.

Musk, speaking virtually at a Future of the Car summit hosted by the Financial Times, said Twitter’s Trump ban was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.” He said permanent bans of Twitter accounts should be rare and reserved for accounts that are scams or automated bots.

Twitter banned Trump’s account in January 2021 for “incitement of violence” following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

“I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice,” Musk said. “So I think this may end up being frankly worse than having a single forum where everyone can debate. I guess the answer is that I would reverse the permanent ban.”

Musk added that his distaste for permanent bans is shared by Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey.

Trump had previously said that he had no intention of rejoining Twitter even if his account was reinstated, telling Fox News last month that he would instead focus on his own platform, Truth Social, which has been mired in problems since its launch earlier this year.

“I am not going on Twitter. I am going to stay on Truth,” Trump told the network. “I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth.”

A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment in response to Musk’s remarks.

Twitter, Musk said, currently has a strong bias to the left, largely because it is located in San Francisco. This alleged bias prevents it from building trust in the rest of the U.S. and the world, he said.

Twitter should get rid of bots and scammers to be a better public forum to exchange ideas, Musk said. It also needs to be transparent when a human takes action against an account, explaining what was done and why, he added. “It’s far too random” at present, he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610197339702.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LONDON (AP) — Elon Musk said he will reverse Twitter’s permanent ban of former President Donald Trump if the Tesla CEO follows through with his plan to buy the social media company.Musk, speaking virtually at a Future of the Car summit hosted by the Financial Times, said Twitter’s Trump ban was a “morally bad decision” and “foolish in the extreme.” He said permanent bans of Twitter accounts should be rare and reserved for accounts that are scams or automated bots.Twitter banned Trump’s account in January 2021 for “incitement of violence” following the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.“I think that was a mistake because it alienated a large part of the country and did not ultimately result in Donald Trump not having a voice,” Musk said. “So I think this may end up being frankly worse than having a single forum where everyone can debate. I guess the answer is that I would reverse the permanent ban.”Musk added that his distaste for permanent bans is shared by Twitter co-founder and former CEO Jack Dorsey.Trump had previously said that he had no intention of rejoining Twitter even if his account was reinstated, telling Fox News last month that he would instead focus on his own platform, Truth Social, which has been mired in problems since its launch earlier this year.“I am not going on Twitter. I am going to stay on Truth,” Trump told the network. “I hope Elon buys Twitter because he’ll make improvements to it and he is a good man, but I am going to be staying on Truth.”A Trump spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment in response to Musk’s remarks.Twitter, Musk said, currently has a strong bias to the left, largely because it is located in San Francisco. This alleged bias prevents it from building trust in the rest of the U.S. and the world, he said.Twitter should get rid of bots and scammers to be a better public forum to exchange ideas, Musk said. It also needs to be transparent when a human takes action against an account, explaining what was done and why, he added. “It’s far too random” at present, he said.

Musk will reverse Twitter's ban of former President Trump

NELIGH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska prosecutor has identified an officer who shot a driver accused of dragging the officer with her car as Neligh Police Chief Michael Wright. 

Antelope County Attorney Joseph Abler also identified the woman shot as 38-year-old Josie Auld of Norfolk. 

The shooting happened Sunday afternoon in Neligh following reports of a disturbance in a convenience store parking lot. 

The Nebraska State Patrol has said 47-year-old Wright had stopped Auld's car when she drove off, dragging the officer. Investigators say Wright then fired his gun, hitting Auld before he fell from the vehicle. 

The patrol said a witness was able to force Auld's vehicle off the road. 

Both Wright and Auld were taken to hospitals and are expected to survive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652208822698.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ASSOCIATED PRESSNELIGH, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska prosecutor has identified an officer who shot a driver accused of dragging the officer with her car as Neligh Police Chief Michael Wright. Antelope County Attorney Joseph Abler also identified the woman shot as 38-year-old Josie Auld of Norfolk. The shooting happened Sunday afternoon in Neligh following reports of a disturbance in a convenience store parking lot. The Nebraska State Patrol has said 47-year-old Wright had stopped Auld's car when she drove off, dragging the officer. Investigators say Wright then fired his gun, hitting Auld before he fell from the vehicle. The patrol said a witness was able to force Auld's vehicle off the road. Both Wright and Auld were taken to hospitals and are expected to survive.

Officials ID Neligh police chief, woman involved in shooting

WASHINGTON (AP) — As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug.

Paxlovid has become the go-to option against COVID-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills to treat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-medication-a5adf6c2e7894e479e795b5a6d1aeb84">20 million people.</a>

But experts say there is still much to be learned about the drug, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">authorized in December</a>&nbsp;for adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 based on a study in which 1,000 adults received the medication.

Doctors have started reporting rare cases of patients whose symptoms return several days after completing Paxlovid’s five-day regimen of pills. That’s prompted questions about whether those patients are still contagious and should receive a second course of Paxlovid.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration weighed in. It advised against a second round because there’s little risk of severe disease or hospitalization among patients who relapse.

Dr. Michael Charness&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1588371/v1/48342d2c-b3ea-4228-b600-168fca1fded7.pdf?c=1650977883" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>last month on a 71-year-old vaccinated patient who saw his symptoms subside but then return, along with a spike in virus levels nine days into his illness.

Charness says Paxlovid remains a highly effective drug, but he wonders if it might be less potent against the current omicron variant. The $500 drug treatment was tested and OK’d based on its performance against the delta version of the coronavirus.

“The ability to clear the virus after it’s suppressed may be different from omicron to delta, especially for vaccinated people,” said Charness, who works for Boston’s VA health system.

Could some people just be susceptible to a relapse? Both the FDA and Pfizer point out that 1% to 2% of people in Pfizer’s original study saw their virus levels rebound after 10 days. The rate was about the same among people taking the drug or dummy pills, “so it is unclear at this point that this is related to drug treatment,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-updates-paxlovid-health-care-providers?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">FDA stated</a>.

Some experts point to another possibility: The Paxlovid dose isn’t strong enough to fully suppress the virus. Andy Pekosz of Johns Hopkins University worries that could spur mutations that are resistant to the drug.

“We should really make sure we’re dosing Paxlovid appropriately because I would hate to lose it right now,” said Pekosz, a virologist. “This is one of the essential tools we have to help us turn the corner on the pandemic.”

HOW WELL DOES PAXLOVID WORK IN VACCINATED PEOPLE?

Pfizer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-eeea3c6a5f6428479e35bc1bcd7aec52">tested Paxlovid&nbsp;</a>in the highest-risk patients: unvaccinated adults with no prior COVID-19 infection and other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. The drug reduced their risk of hospitalization and death from 7% to 1%.

But that doesn’t reflect the vast majority of Americans today, where 89% of adults have had at least one shot. And roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7117e3.htm?s_cid=mm7117e3_w" target="_blank">60% of Americans</a>&nbsp;have been infected with the virus at some point.

“That’s the population I care about in 2022 because that’s who we’re seeing -- vaccinated people with COVID -- so do they benefit?” asked Dr. David Boulware, a University of Minnesota researcher and physician.

There’s no clear answer yet for vaccinated Americans, who already have a hospitalization rate far below 1%.

That may come from a large, ongoing Pfizer study that includes high-risk vaccinated people. No results have been published; the study is expected to wrap up in the fall.

Pfizer said last year that initial results showed Paxlovid failed to meet the study’s goals of significantly resolving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations. It recently stopped enrolling anyone who’s received a vaccination or booster in the past year, a change Boulware says suggests those patients aren’t benefitting.

At a minimum, the preliminary data should be released to federal officials, Boulware said. “If the U.S. government is spending billions of dollars on this medicine, what’s the obligation to release that data so that they can formulate a good policy?”

CAN PAXLOVID BE USED TO HELP PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION?

Pfizer recently reported that proactively giving Paxlovid to family members of people infected with COVID-19 didn’t significantly reduce their chances of catching it. But that’s not the end of the story. Pfizer is studying several other potential benefits of early use, including whether Paxlovid reduces the length and severity of COVID-19 among households.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1652144968838.png" alt="Photo courtesy Pfizer" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Pfizer</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — As more doctors prescribe Pfizer’s powerful COVID-19 pill, new questions are emerging about its performance, including why a small number of patients appear to relapse after taking the drug.Paxlovid has become the go-to option against COVID-19 because of its at-home convenience and impressive results in heading off severe disease. The U.S. government has spent more than $10 billion to purchase enough pills to treat&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-covid-business-health-medication-a5adf6c2e7894e479e795b5a6d1aeb84">20 million people.</a>But experts say there is still much to be learned about the drug, which was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-pfizer-medication-f5f65e7e61d6aa9c7dfa193053e8878a">authorized in December</a>&nbsp;for adults at high risk of severe COVID-19 based on a study in which 1,000 adults received the medication.WHY DO SOME PATIENTS SEEM TO RELAPSE?Doctors have started reporting rare cases of patients whose symptoms return several days after completing Paxlovid’s five-day regimen of pills. That’s prompted questions about whether those patients are still contagious and should receive a second course of Paxlovid.Last week, the Food and Drug Administration weighed in. It advised against a second round because there’s little risk of severe disease or hospitalization among patients who relapse.Dr. Michael Charness&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.researchsquare.com/files/rs-1588371/v1/48342d2c-b3ea-4228-b600-168fca1fded7.pdf?c=1650977883" target="_blank">reported&nbsp;</a>last month on a 71-year-old vaccinated patient who saw his symptoms subside but then return, along with a spike in virus levels nine days into his illness.Charness says Paxlovid remains a highly effective drug, but he wonders if it might be less potent against the current omicron variant. The $500 drug treatment was tested and OK’d based on its performance against the delta version of the coronavirus.“The ability to clear the virus after it’s suppressed may be different from omicron to delta, especially for vaccinated people,” said Charness, who works for Boston’s VA health system.Could some people just be susceptible to a relapse? Both the FDA and Pfizer point out that 1% to 2% of people in Pfizer’s original study saw their virus levels rebound after 10 days. The rate was about the same among people taking the drug or dummy pills, “so it is unclear at this point that this is related to drug treatment,” the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/news-events-human-drugs/fda-updates-paxlovid-health-care-providers?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_source=govdelivery" target="_blank">FDA stated</a>.Some experts point to another possibility: The Paxlovid dose isn’t strong enough to fully suppress the virus. Andy Pekosz of Johns Hopkins University worries that could spur mutations that are resistant to the drug.“We should really make sure we’re dosing Paxlovid appropriately because I would hate to lose it right now,” said Pekosz, a virologist. “This is one of the essential tools we have to help us turn the corner on the pandemic.”HOW WELL DOES PAXLOVID WORK IN VACCINATED PEOPLE?Pfizer&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-science-business-health-medication-eeea3c6a5f6428479e35bc1bcd7aec52">tested Paxlovid&nbsp;</a>in the highest-risk patients: unvaccinated adults with no prior COVID-19 infection and other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. The drug reduced their risk of hospitalization and death from 7% to 1%.But that doesn’t reflect the vast majority of Americans today, where 89% of adults have had at least one shot. And roughly&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7117e3.htm?s_cid=mm7117e3_w" target="_blank">60% of Americans</a>&nbsp;have been infected with the virus at some point.“That’s the population I care about in 2022 because that’s who we’re seeing -- vaccinated people with COVID -- so do they benefit?” asked Dr. David Boulware, a University of Minnesota researcher and physician.There’s no clear answer yet for vaccinated Americans, who already have a hospitalization rate far below 1%.That may come from a large, ongoing Pfizer study that includes high-risk vaccinated people. No results have been published; the study is expected to wrap up in the fall.Pfizer said last year that initial results showed Paxlovid failed to meet the study’s goals of significantly resolving symptoms and reducing hospitalizations. It recently stopped enrolling anyone who’s received a vaccination or booster in the past year, a change Boulware says suggests those patients aren’t benefitting.At a minimum, the preliminary data should be released to federal officials, Boulware said. “If the U.S. government is spending billions of dollars on this medicine, what’s the obligation to release that data so that they can formulate a good policy?”CAN PAXLOVID BE USED TO HELP PREVENT COVID-19 INFECTION?Pfizer recently reported that proactively giving Paxlovid to family members of people infected with COVID-19 didn’t significantly reduce their chances of catching it. But that’s not the end of the story. Pfizer is studying several other potential benefits of early use, including whether Paxlovid reduces the length and severity of COVID-19 among households.“It’s a high bar to protect against infection but I’d love to see data on how Paxlovid did against severe disease because it may be more effective there,” said Pekosz.