<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/18/state-lawmakers-pass-updated-opportunity-scholarship-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to an updated bill that will devote $10 million a year in state funds for scholarships to attend K-12 private or parochial schools.

The 32-15 approval of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/nebraska-would-fund-private-k-12-scholarships-regardless-of-ballot-measure-under-new-proposal/">Legislative Bill 1402</a>&nbsp;on the final day of the 2024 legislative session would end Nebraska’s distinction as one of only two states that don’t allow some form of school choice.

Gov. Jim Pillen has pledged to sign the bill into law, but the measure faces an almost certain challenge, either in the courts or at the ballot box.

LB 1402 has been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/06/passionate-battle-over-school-choice-resumes-in-nebraska-legislature/">described as “an end run”</a>&nbsp;around a planned referendum on the November ballot over a school choice law passed last year, LB 753. That law allows taxpayers to devote up to half of their state income tax liability to “scholarship granting organizations” that hand out scholarships to private and parochial schools. LB 753 allowed up to $25 million a year for that purpose.

Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, called the passage of LB 1402 “a slap in the face to voters,” who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/10/public-school-advocates-qualify-referendum-on-opportunity-scholarship-law-for-2024-election/">signed petitions to place the issue</a>&nbsp;of school choice, as designed under LB 753, on the November ballot.

It’s likely that with the passage of LB 1402, the referendum on last year’s bill will be disqualified from the ballot, though Secretary of State Bob Evnen has not announced his intention.

The NSEA, in a press release after Thursday’s vote, pledged to either challenge the new law in court or mount another petition drive to force a referendum on it.

“We will continue the fight to ensure voters’ wishes on this issue are heard and respected,” Benson said.

Lauren Gage, a spokeswoman for Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, a scholarship granting organization, said supporters of LB 1402 are expecting it to be challenged.

“This has been an uphill battle to help kiddos, and I don’t expect that battle to end,” Gage said.

State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who has fought throughout her eight-year career for school choice, argued during the final-round debate Thursday that it wasn’t right that kids from low-income families don’t have the same choice to attend a private school, because of the cost, as children from more wealthy families.

“How can that be fair?” Linehan asked. “I’m fighting for school choice because I fight for kids.”

Linehan’s daughter, Katie, is employed by the American Federation for Children, a leading national advocate for school choice.

Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne argued that LB 1402 was a “different issue” than last year’s Opportunity Scholarships Act because it was a direct appropriation rather than a tax credit.

Linehan, he said, listened to criticism that last year’s bill was a “tax credit for the rich,” so she brought a different proposal in 2024. LB 1402 was also amended, to attract more support, to a $10 million a year measure rather than $25 million.

Wayne, a former member of the Omaha School Board, said students in low-performing schools in his northeast Omaha district deserve options.

Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood asked, if school choice was so popular, “why are you so scared to take this to a vote?”

“It’s wrong to create barriers to voting,” she said.

Others, including Norfolk Sen. Rob Dover, said providing low-income kids the opportunity to attend a different school could steer some away from gangs, “saving lives and keeping kids out of prison.”

LB 1402 could present some strange legal twists, according to Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, a lawyer and opponent of the bill, because part of the measure repeals last year’s Opportunity Scholarship Act.

If LB 1402 is challenged in court and ruled unconstitutional because it allocates public funds to non-public education, it would render the entire bill void, she said, and thus leave LB 753 in place.

If the secretary of state decides to take the current referendum about LB 753 off the ballot — and that’s very possible because “advisory votes” are not allowed on the ballot — and if LB 1402 is struck down, the senator said it would leave last year’s law in place, without the planned referendum.

A former state lawmaker and lawyer, Paul Schumacher of Columbus, provided a similar legal analysis to the Examiner earlier Thursday.

“It’s a neat chess game, but all the pieces fall together,” said Schumacher, who was term-limited and left the Legislature in 2019.

Gage, of the scholarship granting organization, said she could not speak to those legal opinions. “I’m sure a lot of lawyers will be looking into this,” she said.

So far, she said, 1,143 students have applied for Opportunity Scholarships under last year’s law, and 2,500 applicants are expected by the end of the month, which is the deadline to apply.

Meanwhile, the NSEA has scheduled a rally against LB 1402 for 9 a.m. Saturday at the State Capitol.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713538177461.jpeg" alt="Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at a “school choice” rally in the Rotunda at the Nebraska Capitol on Jan. 24, 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen speaks at a “school choice” rally in the Rotunda at the Nebraska Capitol on Jan. 24, 2023. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/18/state-lawmakers-pass-updated-opportunity-scholarship-bill/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraska lawmakers gave final approval Thursday to an updated bill that will devote $10 million a year in state funds for scholarships to attend K-12 private or parochial schools.The 32-15 approval of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/04/02/nebraska-would-fund-private-k-12-scholarships-regardless-of-ballot-measure-under-new-proposal/">Legislative Bill 1402</a>&nbsp;on the final day of the 2024 legislative session would end Nebraska’s distinction as one of only two states that don’t allow some form of school choice.Gov. Jim Pillen has pledged to sign the bill into law, but the measure faces an almost certain challenge, either in the courts or at the ballot box.<h2>‘An end run’ around referendum</h2>LB 1402 has been&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/06/passionate-battle-over-school-choice-resumes-in-nebraska-legislature/">described as “an end run”</a>&nbsp;around a planned referendum on the November ballot over a school choice law passed last year, LB 753. That law allows taxpayers to devote up to half of their state income tax liability to “scholarship granting organizations” that hand out scholarships to private and parochial schools. LB 753 allowed up to $25 million a year for that purpose.Jenni Benson, the president of the Nebraska State Education Association, called the passage of LB 1402 “a slap in the face to voters,” who&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/10/10/public-school-advocates-qualify-referendum-on-opportunity-scholarship-law-for-2024-election/">signed petitions to place the issue</a>&nbsp;of school choice, as designed under LB 753, on the November ballot.It’s likely that with the passage of LB 1402, the referendum on last year’s bill will be disqualified from the ballot, though Secretary of State Bob Evnen has not announced his intention.The NSEA, in a press release after Thursday’s vote, pledged to either challenge the new law in court or mount another petition drive to force a referendum on it.“We will continue the fight to ensure voters’ wishes on this issue are heard and respected,” Benson said.Lauren Gage, a spokeswoman for Opportunity Scholarships of Nebraska, a scholarship granting organization, said supporters of LB 1402 are expecting it to be challenged.“This has been an uphill battle to help kiddos, and I don’t expect that battle to end,” Gage said.State Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn, who has fought throughout her eight-year career for school choice, argued during the final-round debate Thursday that it wasn’t right that kids from low-income families don’t have the same choice to attend a private school, because of the cost, as children from more wealthy families.“How can that be fair?” Linehan asked. “I’m fighting for school choice because I fight for kids.”Linehan’s daughter, Katie, is employed by the American Federation for Children, a leading national advocate for school choice.Omaha Sen. Justin Wayne argued that LB 1402 was a “different issue” than last year’s Opportunity Scholarships Act because it was a direct appropriation rather than a tax credit.Linehan, he said, listened to criticism that last year’s bill was a “tax credit for the rich,” so she brought a different proposal in 2024. LB 1402 was also amended, to attract more support, to a $10 million a year measure rather than $25 million.Wayne, a former member of the Omaha School Board, said students in low-performing schools in his northeast Omaha district deserve options.Bellevue Sen. Carol Blood asked, if school choice was so popular, “why are you so scared to take this to a vote?”“It’s wrong to create barriers to voting,” she said.Others, including Norfolk Sen. Rob Dover, said providing low-income kids the opportunity to attend a different school could steer some away from gangs, “saving lives and keeping kids out of prison.”<h2>Legal challenge possible</h2>LB 1402 could present some strange legal twists, according to Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, a lawyer and opponent of the bill, because part of the measure repeals last year’s Opportunity Scholarship Act.If LB 1402 is challenged in court and ruled unconstitutional because it allocates public funds to non-public education, it would render the entire bill void, she said, and thus leave LB 753 in place.There’s more, Conrad said.If the secretary of state decides to take the current referendum about LB 753 off the ballot — and that’s very possible because “advisory votes” are not allowed on the ballot — and if LB 1402 is struck down, the senator said it would leave last year’s law in place, without the planned referendum.A former state lawmaker and lawyer, Paul Schumacher of Columbus, provided a similar legal analysis to the Examiner earlier Thursday.“It’s a neat chess game, but all the pieces fall together,” said Schumacher, who was term-limited and left the Legislature in 2019.Gage, of the scholarship granting organization, said she could not speak to those legal opinions. “I’m sure a lot of lawyers will be looking into this,” she said.So far, she said, 1,143 students have applied for Opportunity Scholarships under last year’s law, and 2,500 applicants are expected by the end of the month, which is the deadline to apply.Meanwhile, the NSEA has scheduled a rally against LB 1402 for 9 a.m. Saturday at the State Capitol.

State lawmakers pass updated ‘Opportunity Scholarship’ bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47.

A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer was found dead in her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. The representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.

Mandisa, whose full name was Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church. She gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006.

As she left, host Ryan Seacrest told the singer that she was “a great spirit on the show."

Mandisa moved on, releasing her debut album in 2007 called “True Beauty,” which received a Grammy nomination that year for best pop and contemporary gospel album.

She went on to release five more albums, including a Christmas album.

In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album.

Mandisa spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir entitled “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy” in 2022 that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith.

On Friday, the Christian radio network K-Love paid tribute to the singer on social media, saying: “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713556575642.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Mandisa, a contemporary Christian singer who appeared on “American Idol” and won a Grammy for her 2013 album ‘Overcomer’, has died. She was 47.A representative for the singer told The Associated Press that the singer was found dead in her home in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday. The representative said the cause of Mandisa's death was not yet known.Mandisa, whose full name was Mandisa Lynn Hundley, was born near Sacramento, California, and grew up singing in church. She gained stardom after finishing ninth on “American Idol” in 2006.As she left, host Ryan Seacrest told the singer that she was “a great spirit on the show."Mandisa moved on, releasing her debut album in 2007 called “True Beauty,” which received a Grammy nomination that year for best pop and contemporary gospel album.She went on to release five more albums, including a Christmas album.In 2014, she won a Grammy for best contemporary Christian music album for “Overcomer,” her fifth album.Mandisa spoke openly about her struggles with depression, releasing a memoir entitled “Out of the Dark: My Journey Through the Shadows to Find God’s Joy” in 2022 that detailed her experiences with severe depression, weight-related challenges, the coronavirus pandemic and her faith.On Friday, the Christian radio network K-Love paid tribute to the singer on social media, saying: “Mandisa struggled, and she was vulnerable enough to share that with us, which helped us talk about our own struggles.”

Mandisa, Grammy-winning singer and 'American Idol' alum, dies at 47

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake won a major boost late Wednesday when House Republican leaders included it in a package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill could be law as soon as next week if Congress moves quickly.

The TikTok legislation, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in March and has widespread support in both chambers, was included in the House package as leaders have worked to win votes for the foreign aid bills and after negotiations with the Senate over how long the Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd. would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/divesting-tiktok-buyer-330c3a10d80aa9223facbfba0296a608">to sell its stake</a>&nbsp;in the app to continue operating in the United States. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk.

The new version of the legislation won a key endorsement from Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, who said in a statement that she had successfully pushed to extend the period from six months to a year to give the company enough time to find a buyer. While the original bill had a six-month deadline for TikTok to be sold, the revised legislation would give nine months and a possible three-month extension if a sale was in progress.

“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who had previously expressed doubts about the bill. ”I support this updated legislation.”

If Congress passes the TikTok bill, it would be an extraordinary and unusual moment in which both parties unite against one company – something lawmakers are usually reluctant to do. But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.

Opponents say they believe the ban would be unconstitutional, and there would be likely court challenges if it passes. There has been aggressive pushback from the company, content creators who make money on the app and some of the platform’s 170 million U.S. users, many of whom are young. In some cases, lawmakers have received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-tiktok-ban-lobbying-congress-china-a340cf30b05343816380793af1c5d186">profanity-laced calls</a>&nbsp;from users who were prompted by the app to call their representatives in Congress.

To date, the U.S. government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tiktok-security-technology-social-media-2245e433b5854010ebd99b7987fc78ca">not provided</a>&nbsp;evidence that shows TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that Chinese authorities have tinkered with the company’s popular algorithm, which influences what Americans see.

Since mid-March, TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the legislation, according to AdImpact, an advertising tracking firm. The ads have included a range of content creators, including a nun, extolling the positive impacts of the platform on their lives and arguing a ban would trample on the First Amendment.

TikTok has also spent money on Facebook and Instagram ads that, among other things, talk about investments in data safety. In addition, the company has mounted a lobbying campaign in Washington that included flying in content creators who rely on the platform for income.

Alex Haurek, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement Thursday that “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”

Nadya Okamoto, a content creator who has roughly four million followers on TikTok, said she’s been having conversations with other creators who are experiencing “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and how it’s going to impact their lives. The 26-year-old, whose company “August” sells menstrual products and is known for her advocacy around destigmatizing menstrual periods, makes most of her income from TikTok.

“This is going to have real repercussions,” she said.

Dan Ives, a tech analyst at the financial advisory firm Wedbush Securities, said such a sale would be very complex to carry out, even with an extended timeline.

The platform would come with a hefty price tag that only the biggest tech companies could afford, something that’s likely to raise antitrust concerns. Then, there’s the issue of TikTok’s algorithm, the app’s secret sauce that recommends videos to users. The bill bars ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, and a potential sale is likely to face opposition from China, which has been clamping down on exports of recommendation algorithms by Chinese tech companies.

“Buying TikTok without the algorithm would be like buying a Ferrari without the engine,” said Ives.

Some investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have already voiced interest in buying TikTok’s U.S. business. If a sale isn’t approved and the platform does get banned, Ives said it would be a “dream scenario” for Snapchat, Meta and YouTube, which have faced stiff competition from TikTok the past few years.

If the bill does pass, it would be the most significant step Congress has taken in decades to regulate the tech industry. For years Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-technology-regulation-tiktok-155d696fd44a450a43ce8cb9802e40bb">failed to act</a>&nbsp;on legislation that would protect users’ privacy, protect children online, make companies more liable for their content and put loose guardrails around artificial intelligence, among other things.

Still, it is a narrow shot at one company when many lawmakers would like to see broader change.

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been pushing for years for tech regulation. If the TikTok bill passes, he said, “it will be the first guardrail we put on anything on social media."

Warner said there are a lot of other things that Congress needs to do, “but you've got to start someplace.”

While most lawmakers support the TikTok bill, some have said it would set a dangerous precedent.

“The passage of the House TikTok ban is not just a misguided overreach; it’s a draconian measure that stifles free expression, tramples constitutional rights, and disrupts the economic pursuits of millions of Americans,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul posted on X after the House passed it.

Others are defending the app’s loyal users.

“I am a NO on the TikTok bill we are about to vote on,” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost posted on X before the House vote. At 27, Frost is much younger than most of his colleagues.

“I believe the bill does set TikTok up to be banned," Frost said. "There are first amendment issues I see with taking away a platform that over 170 million Americans use, and this won’t fix the serious issues we have with data privacy."

Jenna Leventoff, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, previewed potential First Amendment challenges to the bill.

“Congress cannot take away the rights of over 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political advocacy, and access information from around the world,” she said.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation that could ban TikTok in the U.S. if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake won a major boost late Wednesday when House Republican leaders included it in a package of bills that would send aid to Ukraine and Israel. The bill could be law as soon as next week if Congress moves quickly.The TikTok legislation, which&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tiktok-ban-house-vote-china-national-security-8fa7258fae1a4902d344c9d978d58a37">passed the House</a>&nbsp;in March and has widespread support in both chambers, was included in the House package as leaders have worked to win votes for the foreign aid bills and after negotiations with the Senate over how long the Chinese technology firm ByteDance Ltd. would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/divesting-tiktok-buyer-330c3a10d80aa9223facbfba0296a608">to sell its stake</a>&nbsp;in the app to continue operating in the United States. President Joe Biden has said he would sign the TikTok legislation if it reaches his desk.The new version of the legislation won a key endorsement from Senate Commerce Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell, who said in a statement that she had successfully pushed to extend the period from six months to a year to give the company enough time to find a buyer. While the original bill had a six-month deadline for TikTok to be sold, the revised legislation would give nine months and a possible three-month extension if a sale was in progress.“Extending the divestment period is necessary to ensure there is enough time for a new buyer to get a deal done,” said Cantwell, who had previously expressed doubts about the bill. ”I support this updated legislation.”If Congress passes the TikTok bill, it would be an extraordinary and unusual moment in which both parties unite against one company – something lawmakers are usually reluctant to do. But the popular social media app has prompted widespread outrage on Capitol Hill, where there is bipartisan concern about Chinese threats to the United States and where few members use the platform themselves.Opponents say they believe the ban would be unconstitutional, and there would be likely court challenges if it passes. There has been aggressive pushback from the company, content creators who make money on the app and some of the platform’s 170 million U.S. users, many of whom are young. In some cases, lawmakers have received&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/senate-tiktok-ban-lobbying-congress-china-a340cf30b05343816380793af1c5d186">profanity-laced calls</a>&nbsp;from users who were prompted by the app to call their representatives in Congress.To date, the U.S. government has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-us-tiktok-security-technology-social-media-2245e433b5854010ebd99b7987fc78ca">not provided</a>&nbsp;evidence that shows TikTok shared U.S. user data with the Chinese government, or that Chinese authorities have tinkered with the company’s popular algorithm, which influences what Americans see.Since mid-March, TikTok has spent $5 million on TV ads opposing the legislation, according to AdImpact, an advertising tracking firm. The ads have included a range of content creators, including a nun, extolling the positive impacts of the platform on their lives and arguing a ban would trample on the First Amendment.TikTok has also spent money on Facebook and Instagram ads that, among other things, talk about investments in data safety. In addition, the company has mounted a lobbying campaign in Washington that included flying in content creators who rely on the platform for income.Alex Haurek, a spokesman for the company, said in a statement Thursday that “It is unfortunate that the House of Representatives is using the cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to once again jam through a ban bill that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans, devastate 7 million businesses, and shutter a platform that contributes $24 billion to the U.S. economy, annually.”Nadya Okamoto, a content creator who has roughly four million followers on TikTok, said she’s been having conversations with other creators who are experiencing “so much anger and anxiety” about the bill and how it’s going to impact their lives. The 26-year-old, whose company “August” sells menstrual products and is known for her advocacy around destigmatizing menstrual periods, makes most of her income from TikTok.“This is going to have real repercussions,” she said.Dan Ives, a tech analyst at the financial advisory firm Wedbush Securities, said such a sale would be very complex to carry out, even with an extended timeline.The platform would come with a hefty price tag that only the biggest tech companies could afford, something that’s likely to raise antitrust concerns. Then, there’s the issue of TikTok’s algorithm, the app’s secret sauce that recommends videos to users. The bill bars ByteDance from controlling TikTok’s algorithm, and a potential sale is likely to face opposition from China, which has been clamping down on exports of recommendation algorithms by Chinese tech companies.“Buying TikTok without the algorithm would be like buying a Ferrari without the engine,” said Ives.Some investors, including former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and “Shark Tank” star Kevin O’Leary, have already voiced interest in buying TikTok’s U.S. business. If a sale isn’t approved and the platform does get banned, Ives said it would be a “dream scenario” for Snapchat, Meta and YouTube, which have faced stiff competition from TikTok the past few years.If the bill does pass, it would be the most significant step Congress has taken in decades to regulate the tech industry. For years Congress has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-technology-regulation-tiktok-155d696fd44a450a43ce8cb9802e40bb">failed to act</a>&nbsp;on legislation that would protect users’ privacy, protect children online, make companies more liable for their content and put loose guardrails around artificial intelligence, among other things.Still, it is a narrow shot at one company when many lawmakers would like to see broader change.Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has been pushing for years for tech regulation. If the TikTok bill passes, he said, “it will be the first guardrail we put on anything on social media."Warner said there are a lot of other things that Congress needs to do, “but you've got to start someplace.”While most lawmakers support the TikTok bill, some have said it would set a dangerous precedent.“The passage of the House TikTok ban is not just a misguided overreach; it’s a draconian measure that stifles free expression, tramples constitutional rights, and disrupts the economic pursuits of millions of Americans,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul posted on X after the House passed it.Others are defending the app’s loyal users.“I am a NO on the TikTok bill we are about to vote on,” Florida Rep. Maxwell Frost posted on X before the House vote. At 27, Frost is much younger than most of his colleagues.“I believe the bill does set TikTok up to be banned," Frost said. "There are first amendment issues I see with taking away a platform that over 170 million Americans use, and this won’t fix the serious issues we have with data privacy."Jenna Leventoff, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, previewed potential First Amendment challenges to the bill.“Congress cannot take away the rights of over 170 million Americans who use TikTok to express themselves, engage in political advocacy, and access information from around the world,” she said.

Legislation that could force a TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package

Since 2018, Nebraska Bank has actively invested in the business and agriculture leaders of tomorrow through the Nebraska Bank Scholarship program. As of April 2024, the bank has awarded $53,000 in education scholarships to high school seniors across Nebraska.&nbsp;

For consideration, applicants must have expressed interest in pursuing a banking, business, or an agriculture related degree. In addition, the scholarship is intended to benefit students who would consider returning to a rural community in Nebraska upon graduation. Lastly, selected recipients have also demonstrated an exceptional interest in community as well as the ability to balance academics and extracurricular activities during high school. Each winning applicant will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their education this fall.&nbsp;

Nebraska Bank is pleased to announce the 2024 Nebraska Bank Scholarship recipients: (name, home town, high school)&nbsp;

Meg Anderson, Dodge (West Point-Beemer)&nbsp;

Harrison Barnette, Bridgeport (Bridgeport Public Schools)&nbsp;

Kenli Boeselager, Chadron (Chadron High School)&nbsp;

Paige Drueke, Naper (Boyd County Schools)&nbsp;

Chloe Frerking, Martell (Norris High School)&nbsp;

Cory Gubbels, Stuart (Stuart High School)&nbsp;

Amelia Hakl, Spencer (Boyd County Schools)&nbsp;

Jake Harder, Belden (Randolph High School)&nbsp;

Carlye Kresl, Hemingford (Hemingford High School)&nbsp;

Faith Oldemeyer, Firth (Oldemeyer Academy of Learning)&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713537691499.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sarah Sasse-Kildow&nbsp;Nebraska BankSince 2018, Nebraska Bank has actively invested in the business and agriculture leaders of tomorrow through the Nebraska Bank Scholarship program. As of April 2024, the bank has awarded $53,000 in education scholarships to high school seniors across Nebraska.&nbsp;For consideration, applicants must have expressed interest in pursuing a banking, business, or an agriculture related degree. In addition, the scholarship is intended to benefit students who would consider returning to a rural community in Nebraska upon graduation. Lastly, selected recipients have also demonstrated an exceptional interest in community as well as the ability to balance academics and extracurricular activities during high school. Each winning applicant will receive a $1,000 scholarship toward their education this fall.&nbsp;Nebraska Bank is pleased to announce the 2024 Nebraska Bank Scholarship recipients: (name, home town, high school)&nbsp;Meg Anderson, Dodge (West Point-Beemer)&nbsp;Harrison Barnette, Bridgeport (Bridgeport Public Schools)&nbsp;Kenli Boeselager, Chadron (Chadron High School)&nbsp;Paige Drueke, Naper (Boyd County Schools)&nbsp;Chloe Frerking, Martell (Norris High School)&nbsp;Cory Gubbels, Stuart (Stuart High School)&nbsp;Amelia Hakl, Spencer (Boyd County Schools)&nbsp;Jake Harder, Belden (Randolph High School)&nbsp;Carlye Kresl, Hemingford (Hemingford High School)&nbsp;Faith Oldemeyer, Firth (Oldemeyer Academy of Learning)&nbsp;

Nebraska Bank Awards Ten College Scholarships featuring three students from the Panhandle

LINCOLN, NEB. – “We are extremely disappointed the Nebraska Legislature was unable to deliver a property tax relief measure before closing out the 2024 legislative session. Nebraskans expected more and deserved better. Yesterday, opponents of LB 388 helped ensure that property taxes will continue to increase on Nebraskans’ homes, farms, and businesses into the future. 

We thank Governor Pillen, Revenue Committee Chair Lou Ann Linehan, and those senators who supported LB 388 for their work to try and provide property tax relief for hard working Nebraskans. Nebraska Farm Bureau is about finding solutions. Clearly there is more work to be done. We look forward to finding solutions with those who similarly share a true commitment to solving Nebraska’s property tax problem.”

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713537007622.jpeg" alt="Mark McHargue (Courtesy of Nebraska Farm Bureau0" />
 <figcaption>Mark McHargue (Courtesy of Nebraska Farm Bureau0</figcaption>
 </figure>Nebraska Farm BureauLINCOLN, NEB. – “We are extremely disappointed the Nebraska Legislature was unable to deliver a property tax relief measure before closing out the 2024 legislative session. Nebraskans expected more and deserved better. Yesterday, opponents of LB 388 helped ensure that property taxes will continue to increase on Nebraskans’ homes, farms, and businesses into the future. We thank Governor Pillen, Revenue Committee Chair Lou Ann Linehan, and those senators who supported LB 388 for their work to try and provide property tax relief for hard working Nebraskans. Nebraska Farm Bureau is about finding solutions. Clearly there is more work to be done. We look forward to finding solutions with those who similarly share a true commitment to solving Nebraska’s property tax problem.”The Nebraska Farm Bureau is grassroots, state-wide organization dedicated to supporting farm and ranch families and working for the benefit of all Nebraskans through a wide variety of educational, service, and advocacy efforts. More than 55,000 families across Nebraska are Farm Bureau members, working together to achieve rural and urban prosperity as agriculture is a key fuel to Nebraska’s economy. For more information about Nebraska Farm Bureau and agriculture, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

 Statement by Mark McHargue, President, Regarding Legislature’s Failure to Act on Property Tax Relief

Nebraska lawmakers adjourned Thursday knowing they'll be called back by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen for a summer session to ease soaring property taxes.

A Pillen-backed sales tax expansion failed on the last day of the session after its author, Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, pulled it from consideration because it lacked support.

“Because of this legislature's inaction this morning, Nebraskans will not see a penny of property tax relief this session,” Pillen told lawmakers as he announced the special session. “It's unacceptable from my seat.”

The unique one-chamber, officially nonpartisan Legislature's 60-day session began more collegially than last year, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">a measure</a>&nbsp;to greatly restrict gender-affirming care for transgender minors generated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-legislature-filibuster-nonpartisan-814790373744b59cd1822f472f6ab3ec">bitter acrimony</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;before passing — along with a 12-week abortion ban.

This session, a lawmaker was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lawmaker-graphic-description-of-rape-0fc4001d222026a3ce9390979da83ac1">reprimanded</a>&nbsp;by the Legislature's governing board after invoking the name of a colleague while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lawmaker-halloran-rape-415eb8066a43c973128ec2601dee85a8">reading a graphic account</a>&nbsp;of rape on the floor.

Here’s a look at legislation that passed this session — and some that didn't.

Linehan's bill would have shifted the state's growing property tax burden to sales and other taxes, raising the sales tax by 1 cent and creating an array of new taxes on candy, tobacco, CBD products and digital advertising.

The bill was stripped of the sales tax increase before it reached a final debate Thursday but still didn't have enough support to pass, and Linehan pulled it.

Pillen had been unable to find a lawmaker willing to sponsor a bill that would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-governor-state-address-fccfa23e3b12fe8a508484e369a2e9c4">reduced property taxes 40%</a>&nbsp;while creating the nation's highest sales tax on goods and services, at 7.5%.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-felons-nebraska-elections-49dee80b7787a60d33b25a35aefa6e98">A new Nebraska law</a>, enacted Thursday without the governor's endorsement, eliminates a two-year waiting period for regaining voting rights for those who have served their sentences for felonies, including prison and parole time.

The waiting period was established in 2005. Before that, a person convicted of a felony lost their right to vote indefinitely.

Restrictions on transgender rights drew acrimony late in the session. A bill was resurrected at the 11th hour to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-bathrooms-sports-nebraska-01b7eeeb56874e2338e58d368765f66a">restrict transgender students</a>&nbsp;in bathrooms, locker rooms and sports.

Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth's measure failed by two votes to end a filibuster.

On the session's last day, lawmakers passed a bill that repeals and replaces 2023 legislation to divert income tax receipts to pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-nebraska-bill-ballot-6597a1a657b98604214d48aa3b07db2b">private school scholarships</a>. The bill represents the first time lawmakers have passed legislation that would block voters from deciding a ballot measure initiated by constituents.

A failed bill would have held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-libraries-obscenity-bill-2dc43c6f4f1bc602a02d7bb66b6d137f">librarians and teachers</a>&nbsp;criminally responsible for providing “obscene material” to students in grades K-12. State Sen. Joni Albrecht introduced the bill to close a “loophole” in the state’s obscenity laws, which prohibit adults from giving such material to minors. But critics panned it as a way for a vocal minority to ban books they don’t like from school and public library shelves.

A bill passed to recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/malcolm-x-day-nebraska-272738484ecac71fba0b7919fba94407">Malcolm X</a>&nbsp;every May 19, the day he was born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. The legislation fell short of declaring the day a state holiday. Instead, it sets aside Malcolm X Day to allow Nebraska schools to hold exercises on the civil rights icon.

Lawmakers passed a whittled-down bill offering child care works an easier path to child care subsidies after stripping the legislation of its $10 million funding due to budget restrictions. Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson modeled the bill on Kentucky legislation that successfully eased a child care worker shortage.

Associated PressNebraska lawmakers adjourned Thursday knowing they'll be called back by Republican Gov. Jim Pillen for a summer session to ease soaring property taxes.A Pillen-backed sales tax expansion failed on the last day of the session after its author, Omaha Sen. Lou Ann Linehan, pulled it from consideration because it lacked support.“Because of this legislature's inaction this morning, Nebraskans will not see a penny of property tax relief this session,” Pillen told lawmakers as he announced the special session. “It's unacceptable from my seat.”The unique one-chamber, officially nonpartisan Legislature's 60-day session began more collegially than last year, when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-transgender-ban-nebraska-filibuster-b0b88845d29f1aaadf7936b7304a0507">a measure</a>&nbsp;to greatly restrict gender-affirming care for transgender minors generated&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-legislature-filibuster-nonpartisan-814790373744b59cd1822f472f6ab3ec">bitter acrimony</a>&nbsp;and an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/filibuster-transgender-gender-affirming-therapy-bill-nebraska-cavanaugh-b9018fd1bf72112ca984ff58679eda6d">epic filibuster</a>&nbsp;before passing — along with a 12-week abortion ban.This session, a lawmaker was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lawmaker-graphic-description-of-rape-0fc4001d222026a3ce9390979da83ac1">reprimanded</a>&nbsp;by the Legislature's governing board after invoking the name of a colleague while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-lawmaker-halloran-rape-415eb8066a43c973128ec2601dee85a8">reading a graphic account</a>&nbsp;of rape on the floor.Here’s a look at legislation that passed this session — and some that didn't.TAXESLinehan's bill would have shifted the state's growing property tax burden to sales and other taxes, raising the sales tax by 1 cent and creating an array of new taxes on candy, tobacco, CBD products and digital advertising.The bill was stripped of the sales tax increase before it reached a final debate Thursday but still didn't have enough support to pass, and Linehan pulled it.Pillen had been unable to find a lawmaker willing to sponsor a bill that would have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-governor-state-address-fccfa23e3b12fe8a508484e369a2e9c4">reduced property taxes 40%</a>&nbsp;while creating the nation's highest sales tax on goods and services, at 7.5%.VOTING<a href="https://apnews.com/article/voting-rights-felons-nebraska-elections-49dee80b7787a60d33b25a35aefa6e98">A new Nebraska law</a>, enacted Thursday without the governor's endorsement, eliminates a two-year waiting period for regaining voting rights for those who have served their sentences for felonies, including prison and parole time.The waiting period was established in 2005. Before that, a person convicted of a felony lost their right to vote indefinitely.TRANSGENDER RIGHTSRestrictions on transgender rights drew acrimony late in the session. A bill was resurrected at the 11th hour to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/transgender-bathrooms-sports-nebraska-01b7eeeb56874e2338e58d368765f66a">restrict transgender students</a>&nbsp;in bathrooms, locker rooms and sports.Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth's measure failed by two votes to end a filibuster.EDUCATIONOn the session's last day, lawmakers passed a bill that repeals and replaces 2023 legislation to divert income tax receipts to pay for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/school-choice-nebraska-bill-ballot-6597a1a657b98604214d48aa3b07db2b">private school scholarships</a>. The bill represents the first time lawmakers have passed legislation that would block voters from deciding a ballot measure initiated by constituents.A failed bill would have held&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nebraska-libraries-obscenity-bill-2dc43c6f4f1bc602a02d7bb66b6d137f">librarians and teachers</a>&nbsp;criminally responsible for providing “obscene material” to students in grades K-12. State Sen. Joni Albrecht introduced the bill to close a “loophole” in the state’s obscenity laws, which prohibit adults from giving such material to minors. But critics panned it as a way for a vocal minority to ban books they don’t like from school and public library shelves.MALCOLM XA bill passed to recognize&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/malcolm-x-day-nebraska-272738484ecac71fba0b7919fba94407">Malcolm X</a>&nbsp;every May 19, the day he was born Malcolm Little in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. The legislation fell short of declaring the day a state holiday. Instead, it sets aside Malcolm X Day to allow Nebraska schools to hold exercises on the civil rights icon.CHILD CARELawmakers passed a whittled-down bill offering child care works an easier path to child care subsidies after stripping the legislation of its $10 million funding due to budget restrictions. Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson modeled the bill on Kentucky legislation that successfully eased a child care worker shortage.

Nebraska lawmakers end session, leaving taxes for later

UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources



Lincoln, Neb. April 19, 2024 —&nbsp;Nebraska’s net farm income is projected to fall to $6 billion in 2024 and average $6.3 billion per year across the next decade, according to a new report from the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri, produced in conjunction with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

While U.S. farm income projections topped a 2021 record with a new record in 2022 before falling in 2023, Nebraska net farm income took a fall in 2022, to $6.6 billion, before partially rebounding in 2023, to $7.2 billion.

"Producers are feeling the pinch of declining farm income in 2023, with&nbsp; a further drop expected in 2024, but the projection to fall to $6 billion this year is a still a relatively strong farm income number, compared to the past decade and builds on a solid financial position for agriculture in the state as a whole," said Brad Lubben, an extension agricultural policy specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability and a contributor to the report.

The projected decline is attributed to a downturn in crop receipts in the state — due to lower crop prices in 2023 — that look to fall further in 2024. Livestock receipts grew in 2023 on the strength of cattle prices but look to decline in 2024 with reduced cattle marketings and further declines in other livestock commodities, the report said.

While production expenses remained high in 2023, the report projects that the costs of feed, fertilizer, and fuel, along with interest rates, are expected to drop in 2024, helping to offset some of the impact of lower commodity receipts in Nebraska.

Other highlights from the report include:

The spring 2024 farm income outlook is co-published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural Profitability and RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision-makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.

The Nebraska Farm Income Outlook report is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://cap.unl.edu/farm-income" target="_blank">https://cap.unl.edu/farm-income</a>.A webinar covering 2024 Nebraska and U.S. Farm Income and Outlook will be held at noon Central time on April 18, with registration accessible on the same page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713532790352.jpeg" alt="Courtesy Photo" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Lincoln, Neb. April 19, 2024 —&nbsp;Nebraska’s net farm income is projected to fall to $6 billion in 2024 and average $6.3 billion per year across the next decade, according to a new report from the Rural and Farm Finance Policy Analysis Center (RaFF) at the University of Missouri, produced in conjunction with the Center for Agricultural Profitability at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.While U.S. farm income projections topped a 2021 record with a new record in 2022 before falling in 2023, Nebraska net farm income took a fall in 2022, to $6.6 billion, before partially rebounding in 2023, to $7.2 billion."Producers are feeling the pinch of declining farm income in 2023, with&nbsp; a further drop expected in 2024, but the projection to fall to $6 billion this year is a still a relatively strong farm income number, compared to the past decade and builds on a solid financial position for agriculture in the state as a whole," said Brad Lubben, an extension agricultural policy specialist with the Center for Agricultural Profitability and a contributor to the report.The projected decline is attributed to a downturn in crop receipts in the state — due to lower crop prices in 2023 — that look to fall further in 2024. Livestock receipts grew in 2023 on the strength of cattle prices but look to decline in 2024 with reduced cattle marketings and further declines in other livestock commodities, the report said.While production expenses remained high in 2023, the report projects that the costs of feed, fertilizer, and fuel, along with interest rates, are expected to drop in 2024, helping to offset some of the impact of lower commodity receipts in Nebraska.Other highlights from the report include:<ul>
 <li>After persistent drought conditions in Nebraska, the forecast of average yields in 2024 results in increases in crop production. Despite increased production projected in 2024, lower commodity prices are expected to reduce 2024 crop receipts by 7%, with projections indicating further reductions in 2025 and 2026.</li><li>Corn planted acreage is anticipated to shrink 240,000 acres in 2024, but an expected return to trend yields allows corn production to increase this year. However, lower corn prices are expected to reduce receipts by $1 billion in 2024.</li><li>Soybean acres climb in 2024, with planted area projected to increase by roughly 472,000 acres from 2023. Higher yields drive production higher, but lower prices cause soybean receipts to decline slightly in 2024.</li><li>After experiencing herd liquidation in 2022, Nebraska cattle and calf inventory fell again during 2023. With improved forage conditions, cattle inventory is projected to grow modestly during 2024.</li><li>Despite higher prices, declining marketings are projected to cause cattle and calf receipts to drop an estimated $0.7 billion in 2024. Total cattle marketings are forecast to decline nearly 6% from 2023. Cattle prices are projected to peak in 2026 and marketings begin to increase in 2025.</li>
 </ul>The spring 2024 farm income outlook is co-published by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Agricultural Profitability and RaFF at the University of Missouri, which provides objective policy analysis and informs decision-makers on issues affecting farm and rural finances. The center collaborates with a number of states to develop farm income projections with local expertise.The Nebraska Farm Income Outlook report is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://cap.unl.edu/farm-income" target="_blank">https://cap.unl.edu/farm-income</a>.A webinar covering 2024 Nebraska and U.S. Farm Income and Outlook will be held at noon Central time on April 18, with registration accessible on the same page.

Nebraska farm income projected to fall in 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-israel-house-republicans-3f6f6af81c860eb8ce4104e61728a0fb">Mike Johnson has unveiled</a>&nbsp;a long-awaited package of bills that will provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-02-2024-9bdf66771b62af37d85a2800f71c0e6c">humanitarian assistance</a>&nbsp;to civilians in Gaza.

The package totals $95.3 billion in spending, which matches the total that the Senate passed in mid-February. But there are also a few differences with the Senate bill designed to win over some House conservatives.

Here's a look at what is in the bills that Johnson hopes to pass by this weekend.

The aid to support Ukraine totals about $61 billion. Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said that more than a third of that amount would be dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military.

The overall amount of money provided to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons from the U.S. is roughly the same in the House and Senate bills — $13.8 billion.

The main difference between the two packages is that the House bill provides more than $9 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans.” The Senate bill included no such provision seeking repayment.

The president would be authorized to set the terms of the loan to Ukraine and also be given the power to cancel it. Congress could override the cancellation but would have to generate enough votes to override a veto, a high bar considering how the two chambers are so evenly divided.

Johnson, as he seeks GOP support for the package, noted that former President Donald Trump has endorsed a “loan concept."

He also noted that the House package includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide a plan and a strategy to Congress for what it seeks to achieve in Ukraine. The plan would be required within 45 days of the bill being signed into law. House Republicans frequently complain that they have yet to see a strategy from Biden for winning the war.

The bill said the report from the administration must be a multiyear plan that spells out “specific and achievable objectives.” It also asked for an estimate of the resources required to achieve the U.S. objectives and a description of the national security implications if the objectives are not met.

Aid in the legislation to support Israel and provide humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza comes to more than $26 billion. The amount of money dedicated to replenishing Israel's missile defense systems totals about $4 billion in the House and Senate bills. An additional $2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the regions is also the same in both bills.

Some conservatives have been critical of the aid for Gaza. At the end of the day, though, Johnson risked losing critical Democratic support for the package if Republicans had excluded it. The humanitarian assistance comes to more than $9 billion for Gaza, where millions of Palestinians face starvation, lack of clean water and disease outbreaks.

The investments to counter China and ensure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-us-congress-delegation-7a5997c2ebece12ac5aa620a43a398af">a strong deterrence in the region</a>&nbsp;come to about $8 billion. The overall amount of money and the investments in the two bills is about the same with a quarter of funds used to replenish weapons and ammunition systems that had been provided to Taiwan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709777601578.png" alt="File image -Speaker of the House Mike Johnson- courtesy House Speaker's office" />
 <figcaption>File image -Speaker of the House Mike Johnson- courtesy House Speaker's office</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-israel-house-republicans-3f6f6af81c860eb8ce4104e61728a0fb">Mike Johnson has unveiled</a>&nbsp;a long-awaited package of bills that will provide&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine">military aid to Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and Israel, replenish U.S. weapons systems and give&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-news-04-02-2024-9bdf66771b62af37d85a2800f71c0e6c">humanitarian assistance</a>&nbsp;to civilians in Gaza.The package totals $95.3 billion in spending, which matches the total that the Senate passed in mid-February. But there are also a few differences with the Senate bill designed to win over some House conservatives.Here's a look at what is in the bills that Johnson hopes to pass by this weekend.UKRAINEThe aid to support Ukraine totals about $61 billion. Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee said that more than a third of that amount would be dedicated to replenishing weapons and ammunition systems for the U.S. military.The overall amount of money provided to Ukraine for the purchase of weapons from the U.S. is roughly the same in the House and Senate bills — $13.8 billion.The main difference between the two packages is that the House bill provides more than $9 billion in economic assistance to Ukraine in the form of “forgivable loans.” The Senate bill included no such provision seeking repayment.The president would be authorized to set the terms of the loan to Ukraine and also be given the power to cancel it. Congress could override the cancellation but would have to generate enough votes to override a veto, a high bar considering how the two chambers are so evenly divided.Johnson, as he seeks GOP support for the package, noted that former President Donald Trump has endorsed a “loan concept."He also noted that the House package includes a requirement for the Biden administration to provide a plan and a strategy to Congress for what it seeks to achieve in Ukraine. The plan would be required within 45 days of the bill being signed into law. House Republicans frequently complain that they have yet to see a strategy from Biden for winning the war.The bill said the report from the administration must be a multiyear plan that spells out “specific and achievable objectives.” It also asked for an estimate of the resources required to achieve the U.S. objectives and a description of the national security implications if the objectives are not met.ISRAELAid in the legislation to support Israel and provide humanitarian relief to citizens of Gaza comes to more than $26 billion. The amount of money dedicated to replenishing Israel's missile defense systems totals about $4 billion in the House and Senate bills. An additional $2.4 billion for current U.S. military operations in the regions is also the same in both bills.Some conservatives have been critical of the aid for Gaza. At the end of the day, though, Johnson risked losing critical Democratic support for the package if Republicans had excluded it. The humanitarian assistance comes to more than $9 billion for Gaza, where millions of Palestinians face starvation, lack of clean water and disease outbreaks.INDO-PACIFICThe investments to counter China and ensure&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-china-us-congress-delegation-7a5997c2ebece12ac5aa620a43a398af">a strong deterrence in the region</a>&nbsp;come to about $8 billion. The overall amount of money and the investments in the two bills is about the same with a quarter of funds used to replenish weapons and ammunition systems that had been provided to Taiwan.

What's inside the $95 billion House bill focused on aiding Ukraine and Israel

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury of 12 people was seated Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s history-making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>, propelling the proceedings closer to opening statements and the start of weeks of dramatic testimony.

<a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaire

The court quickly turned to selecting alternate jurors, with the process on track to wrap up by the end of the week. Prosecutors could begin presenting their case early next week.

The jury of New Yorkers includes a sales professional, a software engineer, a security engineer, an English teacher, a speech therapist, multiple lawyers, an investment banker and a retired wealth manager.

The first-ever trial of a former American president is unfolding during this year's race for the White House, meaning the presumptive Republican nominee will spend his days in court confronted by salacious and unflattering testimony about his personal life while simultaneously campaigning to reclaim the office he held for four years.

He's made clear his determination to use his legal jeopardy, already a central issue in the race against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, to his advantage. After a full day of jury selection, he complained to reporters that he should have been out campaigning but was in court instead for what he said was a “very unfair trial.”

“Everybody’s outraged by it,” he said. “You know the whole world’s watching this New York scam.”

Jury selection proceeded at a plodding pace earlier Thursday when two jurors were dismissed, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair following disclosure of details about her identity and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may have been inaccurate.

But lawyers who began the day with only five jurors settled on the remaining seven in quick succession, along with one alternate. Judge Juan Merchan has said his goal is to have six alternates.

The process of picking a jury is a critical phase in any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for any bias that would prevent them from being impartial.

Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”

To that end, multiple jurors chosen for the panel acknowledged having personal opinions of Trump or his presidency.

One juror, a man who works in investment banking, earlier described himself as “ambivalent” about Trump, adding, “I might not like some of his policies, but there has been some good” for the country.

A woman picked for the jury said she thought Trump seemed “very selfish and self serving," adding, “I don’t really appreciate that from any public servant.” Defense lawyers were out of peremptory strikes, which allow them to dismiss a juror without giving a reason.

The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the final days of the 2016 race.

Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.

Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.

Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.

Trump faces four criminal cases, but it's not clear that any others will reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have caused delays in the other three cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.

The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.”

And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman told the judge and the lawyers that she had doubts after she said aspects of her identity had been made public.

“Yesterday alone I had friends, colleagues and family push things to my phone regarding questioning my identity as a juror," she said. "I don’t believe at this point that I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influences not affect my decision making in the courtroom.”

A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that he may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.

The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.

A prosecutor also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.

Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reporters, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied that either instance was connected to him.

After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-media-jurors-anonymity-f858be6648fa2df7d2ab69efd30a524c">ordered journalists</a>&nbsp;in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.

“We just lost, probably, what probably would have been a very good juror for this case, and the first thing that she said was she was afraid and intimidated by the press, all the press, and everything that had happened," Merchan said.

In other developments, prosecutors asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week.

The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, prosecutors said he made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.

Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.

Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713486725551.png" alt="Trump outside the courtroom Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Trump outside the courtroom Thursday -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — A jury of 12 people was seated Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s history-making&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-jury-selection-8da8759352478be8effd3d5734aae35e">hush money trial</a>, propelling the proceedings closer to opening statements and the start of weeks of dramatic testimony.<a href="https://www.nycourts.gov/LegacyPDFS/press/PDFs/Letter-re-jury-selection-4-8-24.pdf">Click here to read&nbsp;</a>the Trump jury selection questionnaireThe court quickly turned to selecting alternate jurors, with the process on track to wrap up by the end of the week. Prosecutors could begin presenting their case early next week.The jury of New Yorkers includes a sales professional, a software engineer, a security engineer, an English teacher, a speech therapist, multiple lawyers, an investment banker and a retired wealth manager.The first-ever trial of a former American president is unfolding during this year's race for the White House, meaning the presumptive Republican nominee will spend his days in court confronted by salacious and unflattering testimony about his personal life while simultaneously campaigning to reclaim the office he held for four years.He's made clear his determination to use his legal jeopardy, already a central issue in the race against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden, to his advantage. After a full day of jury selection, he complained to reporters that he should have been out campaigning but was in court instead for what he said was a “very unfair trial.”“Everybody’s outraged by it,” he said. “You know the whole world’s watching this New York scam.”Jury selection proceeded at a plodding pace earlier Thursday when two jurors were dismissed, one after expressing doubt about her ability to be fair following disclosure of details about her identity and the other over concerns that some of his answers in court may have been inaccurate.But lawyers who began the day with only five jurors settled on the remaining seven in quick succession, along with one alternate. Judge Juan Merchan has said his goal is to have six alternates.The process of picking a jury is a critical phase in any criminal trial but especially so when the defendant is a former president and the presumptive Republican nominee. Prospective jurors have been grilled on their social media posts, personal lives and political views as the lawyers and judge search for any bias that would prevent them from being impartial.Inside the court, there’s broad acknowledgment of the futility in trying to find jurors without knowledge of Trump. A prosecutor this week said that lawyers were not looking for people who had been “living under a rock for the past eight years.”To that end, multiple jurors chosen for the panel acknowledged having personal opinions of Trump or his presidency.One juror, a man who works in investment banking, earlier described himself as “ambivalent” about Trump, adding, “I might not like some of his policies, but there has been some good” for the country.A woman picked for the jury said she thought Trump seemed “very selfish and self serving," adding, “I don’t really appreciate that from any public servant.” Defense lawyers were out of peremptory strikes, which allow them to dismiss a juror without giving a reason.The trial centers on a $130,000 payment that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/michael-cohen">Michael Cohen</a>, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels to prevent her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump from becoming public in the final days of the 2016 race.Prosecutors say Trump obscured the true nature of the payments in internal records when his company reimbursed Cohen, who pleaded guilty to federal charges in 2018 and is expected to be a star witness for the prosecution.Trump has denied having a sexual encounter with Daniels, and his lawyers argue that the payments to Cohen were legitimate legal expenses.Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. He could get up to four years in prison if convicted, though it’s not clear that the judge would opt to put him behind bars. Trump would almost certainly appeal any conviction.Trump faces four criminal cases, but it's not clear that any others will reach trial before the November election. Appeals and legal wrangling have caused delays in the other three cases charging Trump with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">plotting to overturn the 2020 election results</a>&nbsp;and with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-justice-department-indictment-classified-documents-miami-8315a5b23c18f27083ed64eef21efff3">illegally hoarding classified documents</a>.The jury selection process picked up momentum Tuesday with the selection of seven jurors. But on Thursday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-criminal-trial-judge-merchan-c227f5eab200cccffb19ed931b4dac92">Merchan</a>&nbsp;revealed in court that one of the seven, a cancer nurse, had “conveyed that after sleeping on it overnight she had concerns about her ability to be fair and impartial in this case.”And though jurors’ names are being kept confidential, the woman told the judge and the lawyers that she had doubts after she said aspects of her identity had been made public.“Yesterday alone I had friends, colleagues and family push things to my phone regarding questioning my identity as a juror," she said. "I don’t believe at this point that I can be fair and unbiased and let the outside influences not affect my decision making in the courtroom.”A second seated juror was dismissed after prosecutors raised concerns that he may not have been honest in answering a jury selection question by saying that he had never been accused or convicted of a crime.The IT professional was summoned to court to answer questions after prosecutors said they found an article about a person with the same name who had been arrested in the 1990s for tearing down political posters pertaining to the political right in suburban Westchester County.A prosecutor also disclosed that a relative of the man may have been involved in a deferred prosecution agreement in the 1990s with the Manhattan district attorney’s office, which is prosecuting Trump’s case.Because the juror was questioned Thursday at the judge’s bench, off-microphone and out of earshot of reporters, it was not known whether the man confirmed or denied that either instance was connected to him.After dismissing from the jury the nurse who had already been selected, Merchan&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-trial-media-jurors-anonymity-f858be6648fa2df7d2ab69efd30a524c">ordered journalists</a>&nbsp;in court not to report prospective jurors’ answers to questions about their current and former employers.“We just lost, probably, what probably would have been a very good juror for this case, and the first thing that she said was she was afraid and intimidated by the press, all the press, and everything that had happened," Merchan said.In other developments, prosecutors asked for Trump to be held in contempt over a series of social media posts this week.The district attorney's office on Monday sought a $3,000 fine for Trump for three Truth Social posts they said violated the order. Since then, prosecutors said he made seven additional posts that they believe violate the order.Several of the posts involved an article that referred to former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen as a “serial perjurer,” and one from Wednesday repeated a claim by a Fox News host that liberal activists were lying to get on the jury, said prosecutor Christopher Conroy.Trump lawyer Emil Bove said Cohen “has been attacking President Trump in public statements,” and Trump was just replying.

12 jurors sworn in for the 1st criminal trial of a former U.S. President

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">unprecedented drone-and-missile assault</a>&nbsp;on the country.

No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-retaliation-explainer-d9145465e2e2d54d3c975e51af95275b">tensions</a>&nbsp;have been high since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attacks-f27cda966ac274982d968cbcc033eff0">the Saturday assault</a>&nbsp;on Israel amid its war on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and its own strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">targeting Iran</a>&nbsp;in Syria.

U.S. officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed U.S. officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault, which came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 85th birthday. Israeli politicians also made comments hinting that the country had launched an attack.

Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.

“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. Others suggested the drones may be so-called quadcopters — four rotor, small drones that are commercially available.

Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Tasnim also published a video from one of its reporters, who said he was in the southeastern Zerdenjan area of Isfahan, near its “nuclear energy mountain.” The footage showed two different anti-aircraft gun positions, and details of the video corresponded with known features of the site of Iran's Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan.

“At 4:45, we heard gunshots. There was nothing going on,” he said. “It was the air defense, these guys that you’re watching, and over there too.”

The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran's civilian nuclear program.

Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.

State television described all atomic sites in the area as “fully safe." The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the incident.

The IAEA “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the agency said.

Iran's nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.

While Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the IAEA say Tehran operated a secret military weapons program until 2003. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iaea-nuclear-quarterly-report-bca494913fbc8ccc1621466fe9c221e6">IAEA has warned</a>&nbsp;that Iran now holds enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so — though the U.S. intelligence community maintains Tehran is not actively seeking the bomb.

Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.

Iran then grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Iran later restored normal flight service, authorities said.

Around the time of the incident in Iran, Syria's state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement saying Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.

That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away, and east of Israel.

Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.

The incident Friday in Iran also sparked concerns about the conflict again escalating across the seas of the Middle East, which have been seeing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on shipping over the war in Gaza.

The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships in the region that they could see increased drone activity in the skies.

“There are currently no indications commercial vessels are the intended target,” it wrote.

The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched at least 53 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and as shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined over the threat.

However, Iranian state-run media sought to downplay the incident after the fact, airing footage of an otherwise-peaceful Isfahan morning. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to retaliate for any Israeli retaliatory attack on the nation.

“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.

In particular, IRNA said air defenses fired at a major airbase in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713495701429.png" alt="Google image" />
 <figcaption>Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defenses at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan after spotting drones, which were suspected to be part of an Israeli attack in retaliation for Tehran's&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/strait-of-hormuz-vessel-33fcffde2d867380e98c89403776a8ac">unprecedented drone-and-missile assault</a>&nbsp;on the country.No Iranian official directly acknowledged the possibility that Israel attacked, and the Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. However,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-iran-retaliation-explainer-d9145465e2e2d54d3c975e51af95275b">tensions</a>&nbsp;have been high since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-israel-attacks-f27cda966ac274982d968cbcc033eff0">the Saturday assault</a>&nbsp;on Israel amid its war on&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>&nbsp;and its own strikes&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-syria-airstrike-iranian-embassy-edca34c52d38c8bc57281e4ebf33b240">targeting Iran</a>&nbsp;in Syria.U.S. officials declined to comment as of early Friday, but American broadcast networks quoting unnamed U.S. officials said Israel carried out the attack. The New York Times quoted anonymous Israeli officials claiming the assault, which came on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 85th birthday. Israeli politicians also made comments hinting that the country had launched an attack.Air defense batteries fired in several provinces over reports of drones being in the air, state television reported. Iranian army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi said crews targeted several flying objects.“The explosion this morning in the sky of Isfahan was related to the shooting of air defense systems at a suspicious object that did not cause any damage,” Mousavi said. Others suggested the drones may be so-called quadcopters — four rotor, small drones that are commercially available.Authorities said air defenses fired at a major air base in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.Tasnim also published a video from one of its reporters, who said he was in the southeastern Zerdenjan area of Isfahan, near its “nuclear energy mountain.” The footage showed two different anti-aircraft gun positions, and details of the video corresponded with known features of the site of Iran's Uranium Conversion Facility at Isfahan.“At 4:45, we heard gunshots. There was nothing going on,” he said. “It was the air defense, these guys that you’re watching, and over there too.”The facility at Isfahan operates three small Chinese-supplied research reactors, as well as handling fuel production and other activities for Iran's civilian nuclear program.Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli sabotage attacks.State television described all atomic sites in the area as “fully safe." The United Nations' nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, also said “there is no damage to Iran’s nuclear sites” after the incident.The IAEA “continues to call for extreme restraint from everybody and reiterates that nuclear facilities should never be a target in military conflicts,” the agency said.Iran's nuclear program has rapidly advanced to producing enriched uranium at nearly weapons-grade levels since the collapse of its atomic deal with world powers after then-President Donald Trump withdrew America from the accord in 2018.While Iran insists its program is for peaceful purposes, Western nations and the IAEA say Tehran operated a secret military weapons program until 2003. The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-iaea-nuclear-quarterly-report-bca494913fbc8ccc1621466fe9c221e6">IAEA has warned</a>&nbsp;that Iran now holds enough enriched uranium to build several nuclear weapons if it chose to do so — though the U.S. intelligence community maintains Tehran is not actively seeking the bomb.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran then grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Iran later restored normal flight service, authorities said.Around the time of the incident in Iran, Syria's state-run SANA news agency quoted a military statement saying Israel carried out a missile strike targeting an air defense unit in its south and causing material damage. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said the strike hit a military radar for government forces. It was not clear if there were casualties, the Observatory said.That area of Syria is directly west of Isfahan, some 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) away, and east of Israel.Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.The incident Friday in Iran also sparked concerns about the conflict again escalating across the seas of the Middle East, which have been seeing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen on shipping over the war in Gaza.The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center warned ships in the region that they could see increased drone activity in the skies.“There are currently no indications commercial vessels are the intended target,” it wrote.The Houthis have&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebel-attack-israel-hamas-war-bf077f026a9f177ec87f4131d695cafc">launched at least 53 attacks</a>&nbsp;on shipping, seized one vessel and sank another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and as shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined over the threat.However, Iranian state-run media sought to downplay the incident after the fact, airing footage of an otherwise-peaceful Isfahan morning. That could be intentional, particularly after Iranian officials for days have been threatening to retaliate for any Israeli retaliatory attack on the nation.“As long as Iran continues to deny the attack and deflect attention from it and no further hits are seen, there is space for both sides to climb down the escalation ladder for now,” said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa program at Chatham House.-----------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near a major airbase at the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.In particular, IRNA said air defenses fired at a major airbase in Isfahan, which long has been home to Iran's fleet of American-made F-14 Tomcats — purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies also reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.Isfahan also is home to sites associated with Iran's nuclear program, including its underground Natanz enrichment site, which has been repeatedly targeted by suspected Israeli attacks. However, state television described all sites in the area as “fully safe."Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn't immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.Meanwhile in Iraq, where a number of Iranian-backed militias are based, residents of Baghdad reported hearing sounds of explosions, but the source of the noise was not immediately clear.--------------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel. One government official suggested sites may have been targeted by drones.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.Iran later announced it grounded commercial flights in Tehran and across areas of its western and central regions. Loudspeakers informed customers of the incident at Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran, online videos purported to show.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.Hossein Dalirian, a spokesman for Iran's civilian space program, said on the X social media platform that several small “quadcopter” drones had been shot down. It wasn't immediately clear where that happened or if it was part of the ongoing incident in Iran.DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran fired air defense batteries early Friday morning after reports of explosions near the city of Isfahan, the state-run IRNA news agency reported.It remained unclear if the country was under attack. However, tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.IRNA said the defenses fired across several provinces. It did not elaborate on what caused the batteries to fire, though people across the area reported hearing the sounds.The semiofficial Fars and Tasnim news agencies reported the sound of blasts, without giving a cause. State television acknowledged “loud noise" in the area.-----------DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Commercial flights began diverting their routes over western Iran without explanation early Friday as one semiofficial news agency in the Islamic Republic reported “explosions” heard over the city of Isfahan. State television acknowledged “loud noise.”The incident comes as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East after Iran’s unprecedented missile-and-drone attack on Israel.Dubai-based carriers Emirates and FlyDubai began diverting around western Iran about 4:30 a.m. local time. They offered no explanation, though local warnings to aviators suggested the airspace may have been closed.The semiofficial Fars news agency reported on explosions being heard over Isfahan near its international airport. It offered no explanation. However, Isfahan is home to a major airbase for the Iranian military, as well as sites associated with its nuclear program.Iranian state television began a scrolling, on-screen alert acknowledging a “loud noise” near Isfahan, without immediately elaborating.The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.