OMAHA – Considering the recent devastating tornadoes that struck Nebraska communities, we at the League are deeply saddened by the loss and destruction experienced by our families, neighbors, and friends. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy, and we are committed to providing support and assistance during this difficult time.&nbsp;

To aid in the recovery efforts, the League is pleased to announce that the Credit Union Foundation of Nebraska (CUFN) has made a $10,000 donation, on behalf of Nebraska credit unions, to the&nbsp; United Way of the Midlands to assist tornado victims in rebuilding their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“As not-for-profit cooperatives credit unions were founded on the principle of ‘people helping people’ and in times of disaster, credit unions don’t just weather the storm; they become beacons of hope, uniting their strengths to weave a safety net of support for their communities,” said League President and CEO Scott Sullivan.&nbsp;

Nebraska Credit Union LeagueOMAHA – Considering the recent devastating tornadoes that struck Nebraska communities, we at the League are deeply saddened by the loss and destruction experienced by our families, neighbors, and friends. Our hearts go out to all those affected by this tragedy, and we are committed to providing support and assistance during this difficult time.&nbsp;To aid in the recovery efforts, the League is pleased to announce that the Credit Union Foundation of Nebraska (CUFN) has made a $10,000 donation, on behalf of Nebraska credit unions, to the&nbsp; United Way of the Midlands to assist tornado victims in rebuilding their lives.&nbsp;&nbsp;“As not-for-profit cooperatives credit unions were founded on the principle of ‘people helping people’ and in times of disaster, credit unions don’t just weather the storm; they become beacons of hope, uniting their strengths to weave a safety net of support for their communities,” said League President and CEO Scott Sullivan.&nbsp;

Credit Union League Foundation to Aid Tornado Victims 

UNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 2, 2024 —&nbsp;Over the past year, a group of Sandhills ranchers facing invasive redcedars have heard a welcome word from the university: “Timber!” The University of Nebraska—Lincoln has helped 11 ranchers within 30 miles of the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch near Rose, Nebraska, remove redcedars from their land.

The project, funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and operated through the university, supported ranchers with up to $10,000 in funds to either mechanically remove or burn redcedars and allow the university to track results.

Kyle Martens, a program coordinator with the Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, has overseen the project. Results are still coming in, but he said one thing is clear.

“When you remove big cedar trees that have been there in the 10- to 20-year range, it's night-and-day difference,” he said. “You wouldn't even recognize the pasture.”

Each large tree can produce tens of thousands of seeds, he said, so even when the tree is gone, seeds remain in the soil. Redcedars have already proven they can grow in Sandhills soil where other trees can’t. Their ability to survive in sandy soils is why governmental agencies promoted them as windbreaks and shelter belts after the Dust Bowl, Martens said.

“Now, all these years later, because we were operating on the fact that you couldn't get trees to grow out there, it somewhat flipped that paradigm on its head where trees like cedar can and will grow and, if not controlled, will go out of control,” he said.

The redcedars outcompete grass and, unchecked, diminish grazing lands, wildlife habitat and aquifer waters and lead to a slew of other problems.

Ranchers spied the encroachment problem decades ago, but it’s newer to the university and research circles, Martens said. "Early on in the nineties, landowners and land managers were sounding the alarm in South Texas and Oklahoma that these trees were moving out into grazing lands, uninterrupted,” he said. “I would say only now, through remote sensing and some of [Nebraska professor] Daniel Uden's work, have we really been able to zoom out and see the big picture, the forest for the trees, if you will.”

Ranchers have tried to kick stray cedar survivors off their land for years and have found it a struggle. Sarah Sortum, a fourth-generation rancher who participated in the cedar project with her brother, Adam Switzer, and their parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, said the family has tried to manage encroachment with prescribed burns for 12 years and mechanical removal for 15 years but the trees keep coming.

“Every year the intensity ramps up, a seemingly out-of-control cycle of more seed equals more trees that are outpacing management measures,” she said. 

The trees have become one of the main economic and environmental challenges for their ranch, she said. "When I see volunteer cedars in our range pastures, I view them as standing debt,” she said.

Sortum and her family were the only project participants to use fire to remove the cedars.

Martens met with all project participants three times and discussed mechanical removal and prescribed burns and contractors and equipment for both options. He relayed the university’s latest research findings from the collaborative adaptive management project at Barta Brothers Ranch, which uses prescribed burns and rotational grazing.

Although findings are preliminary, Barta researchers have not seen increased erosion or loss of overall plant biomass resulting from patch-burn grazing, Martens said, but they have seen higher weight gains in cattle grazing land in the system.

“The fact that you can do a spring burn, you can turn your animals out pretty quickly, you can have them gain heavily in that first part of the season, it doesn't affect the overall production of plant biomass on the landscape, it's just anecdotal things like that that I share that are pretty interesting,” he said.

In turn, ranchers have told him what they have seen on the land with grazing strategies and managing the land through problems like wind, drought, rain swells and redcedar spread.

“Hearing some of the stories of how they accomplish that, it's intense,” he said. “It's impressive, and I don't know how they have done that for, often, generations, but you get a newfound respect for what these folks do.”Sortum said it costs a lot to remove redcedars mechanically and, although prescribed burns may cost less, ranchers can face financial hardships if they need to defer cattle grazing in an area before or after a burn.

“This is where the cost share really helped us out, taking the financial risk and stress out of the equation so we could focus on getting this area cleared of cedar,” she said.

For future research, she said she was curious whether redcedars could be used as a resource for other products such as essential oils. Historically, some tribes used various parts of the trees, like their berries or bark, for medicines or foods like tea.

Martens said the Nebraska Forest Service tried to figure out a way to make sustainable products from the trees but most of the trees grew too shrubby. Some ranchers have salvaged straight sections of the trees to make quarter posts and fence posts.

Going forward, funding for the cedar project will end in June 2024, and then the 5,300 acres enrolled will be monitored with remote sensing and on-the-ground research.

Daniel Uden, a professor in agronomy and natural resources, received a McIntire-Stennis grant to support follow-up research on redcedar management at Barta Brothers Ranch over the next five years.Martens said he hopes monitoring will give them a good look at what’s happening on the land over time and help determine the cost-effectiveness of treatments.

“We want to keep grass in grass, but we can't spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to do that,” he said. “We have to find the most cost-effective manner.”

He said he hopes the project will reestablish Barta Brothers Ranch as a “pivotal point” for the Eastern Sandhills to test landowner concerns and different management methods.

“Hopefully, we can continue to partner with our neighbors for years to come and actually put research on the ground that benefits the producers, their families, and the Sandhills at large.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714657118036.jpeg" alt="Kyle Martens (on right) has overseen a project helping 11 landowners near the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch clear eastern redcedars from their land this past year." />
 <figcaption>Kyle Martens (on right) has overseen a project helping 11 landowners near the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch clear eastern redcedars from their land this past year.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ronica StrombergUNL&nbsp;Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources&nbsp; Lincoln, Neb. May 2, 2024 —&nbsp;Over the past year, a group of Sandhills ranchers facing invasive redcedars have heard a welcome word from the university: “Timber!” The University of Nebraska—Lincoln has helped 11 ranchers within 30 miles of the university’s Barta Brothers Ranch near Rose, Nebraska, remove redcedars from their land.The project, funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and operated through the university, supported ranchers with up to $10,000 in funds to either mechanically remove or burn redcedars and allow the university to track results.Kyle Martens, a program coordinator with the Center for Resilience in Agricultural Working Landscapes, has overseen the project. Results are still coming in, but he said one thing is clear.“When you remove big cedar trees that have been there in the 10- to 20-year range, it's night-and-day difference,” he said. “You wouldn't even recognize the pasture.”Each large tree can produce tens of thousands of seeds, he said, so even when the tree is gone, seeds remain in the soil. Redcedars have already proven they can grow in Sandhills soil where other trees can’t. Their ability to survive in sandy soils is why governmental agencies promoted them as windbreaks and shelter belts after the Dust Bowl, Martens said.“Now, all these years later, because we were operating on the fact that you couldn't get trees to grow out there, it somewhat flipped that paradigm on its head where trees like cedar can and will grow and, if not controlled, will go out of control,” he said.The redcedars outcompete grass and, unchecked, diminish grazing lands, wildlife habitat and aquifer waters and lead to a slew of other problems.Ranchers spied the encroachment problem decades ago, but it’s newer to the university and research circles, Martens said. "Early on in the nineties, landowners and land managers were sounding the alarm in South Texas and Oklahoma that these trees were moving out into grazing lands, uninterrupted,” he said. “I would say only now, through remote sensing and some of [Nebraska professor] Daniel Uden's work, have we really been able to zoom out and see the big picture, the forest for the trees, if you will.”Ranchers have tried to kick stray cedar survivors off their land for years and have found it a struggle. Sarah Sortum, a fourth-generation rancher who participated in the cedar project with her brother, Adam Switzer, and their parents, Bruce and Sue Ann Switzer, said the family has tried to manage encroachment with prescribed burns for 12 years and mechanical removal for 15 years but the trees keep coming.“Every year the intensity ramps up, a seemingly out-of-control cycle of more seed equals more trees that are outpacing management measures,” she said. The trees have become one of the main economic and environmental challenges for their ranch, she said. "When I see volunteer cedars in our range pastures, I view them as standing debt,” she said.Sortum and her family were the only project participants to use fire to remove the cedars.Martens met with all project participants three times and discussed mechanical removal and prescribed burns and contractors and equipment for both options. He relayed the university’s latest research findings from the collaborative adaptive management project at Barta Brothers Ranch, which uses prescribed burns and rotational grazing.Although findings are preliminary, Barta researchers have not seen increased erosion or loss of overall plant biomass resulting from patch-burn grazing, Martens said, but they have seen higher weight gains in cattle grazing land in the system.“The fact that you can do a spring burn, you can turn your animals out pretty quickly, you can have them gain heavily in that first part of the season, it doesn't affect the overall production of plant biomass on the landscape, it's just anecdotal things like that that I share that are pretty interesting,” he said.In turn, ranchers have told him what they have seen on the land with grazing strategies and managing the land through problems like wind, drought, rain swells and redcedar spread.“Hearing some of the stories of how they accomplish that, it's intense,” he said. “It's impressive, and I don't know how they have done that for, often, generations, but you get a newfound respect for what these folks do.”Sortum said it costs a lot to remove redcedars mechanically and, although prescribed burns may cost less, ranchers can face financial hardships if they need to defer cattle grazing in an area before or after a burn.“This is where the cost share really helped us out, taking the financial risk and stress out of the equation so we could focus on getting this area cleared of cedar,” she said.For future research, she said she was curious whether redcedars could be used as a resource for other products such as essential oils. Historically, some tribes used various parts of the trees, like their berries or bark, for medicines or foods like tea.Martens said the Nebraska Forest Service tried to figure out a way to make sustainable products from the trees but most of the trees grew too shrubby. Some ranchers have salvaged straight sections of the trees to make quarter posts and fence posts.Going forward, funding for the cedar project will end in June 2024, and then the 5,300 acres enrolled will be monitored with remote sensing and on-the-ground research.Daniel Uden, a professor in agronomy and natural resources, received a McIntire-Stennis grant to support follow-up research on redcedar management at Barta Brothers Ranch over the next five years.Martens said he hopes monitoring will give them a good look at what’s happening on the land over time and help determine the cost-effectiveness of treatments.“We want to keep grass in grass, but we can't spend hundreds of millions of dollars trying to do that,” he said. “We have to find the most cost-effective manner.”He said he hopes the project will reestablish Barta Brothers Ranch as a “pivotal point” for the Eastern Sandhills to test landowner concerns and different management methods.“Hopefully, we can continue to partner with our neighbors for years to come and actually put research on the ground that benefits the producers, their families, and the Sandhills at large.”

University helps neighboring ranchers oust redcedars

United States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Sikes, 69, of Alma, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for providing a false statement. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Sikes to 36 months’ probation. There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; Sikes was additionally ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

In January of 2018, Jeffrey Sikes, son of David Sikes, was set to be sentenced in the United States District Court for wire fraud crimes. Jeffrey failed to appear at his sentencing and arrest warrants were issued. Following his failure to appear, David Sikes was contacted by federal law enforcement on multiple occasions in attempts to determine Jeffrey’s whereabouts. David indicated to officers he did not know where Jeffrey was located.&nbsp; However, David knew where Jeffrey was living as a fugitive with his family. David even visited Jeffrey where he was hiding in Alabama on at least one occasion before Jeffrey was arrested for further federal crimes. The investigation also revealed that David supported Jeffrey financially while he was living as a fugitive in Alabama.&nbsp;

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States AttorneyUnited States Attorney Susan Lehr announced that David Sikes, 69, of Alma, Nebraska, was sentenced on May 1, 2024, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska for providing a false statement. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Sikes to 36 months’ probation. There is no parole in the federal system.&nbsp; Sikes was additionally ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.In January of 2018, Jeffrey Sikes, son of David Sikes, was set to be sentenced in the United States District Court for wire fraud crimes. Jeffrey failed to appear at his sentencing and arrest warrants were issued. Following his failure to appear, David Sikes was contacted by federal law enforcement on multiple occasions in attempts to determine Jeffrey’s whereabouts. David indicated to officers he did not know where Jeffrey was located.&nbsp; However, David knew where Jeffrey was living as a fugitive with his family. David even visited Jeffrey where he was hiding in Alabama on at least one occasion before Jeffrey was arrested for further federal crimes. The investigation also revealed that David supported Jeffrey financially while he was living as a fugitive in Alabama.&nbsp;This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

South Central Nebraska Man Convicted for Providing False Statement to Federal Authorities

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.

UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.

Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:

“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.

Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.

“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.

She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.

“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.

As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.

A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.

UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.

“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;

“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”

University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.

Synya said the demands were shared in person with campus leaders&nbsp;so she doesn’t know if they were “maybe just misremembering.”

“As students we’re stakeholders in this community — we’re the customer here —&nbsp;so we’d like a response,” Synya said.

Melissa Lee, a spokesperson for NU’s central administration, pointed to the university’s endowment holdings posted online and said anyone could review those reports.&nbsp;

The “Fund N” reports —&nbsp;the portion of investments that NU has direct control over and includes donations and gifts made directly to the university — started in December 2020 in response to calls that year for NU to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/nu-board-of-regents-commit-to-sustainability-set-construction-date-for-155-million-football-facility/article_24165bf0-3683-11eb-a763-63ba8cfdae5f.html">divest from fossil fuel industries</a>. Other investments are managed by the NU Foundation.

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/transparency/investment/fund-n-holding-report-12-31-23.pdf">most recent Fund N report</a>&nbsp;was issued Dec. 31, 2023.

“The endowment exists to support all students and the broad mission of the university,” Lee said. “It is not an advocacy tool.”

The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nebraska-israel-cooperation">Jewish Virtual Library</a>&nbsp;details some of the State of Nebraska’s partnerships with the Middle East nation. It also outlines grants and research UNL faculty have collaborated on with researchers overseas, which came under fire from at least one protester.

That protester’s demands mirrored the information listed through the library, including for UNL to end ties with the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. They also called for UNL to fire certain faculty and end partnerships with various companies and departments, saying they are “working with war criminals.”

In one case, a grant from the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Water Commissioner’s Office, Israel Ministry of Science and the binational foundation supported research on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://calmit.unl.edu/detecting-toxic-blue-green-algal-blooms-nebraska-lakes">toxic algal blooms</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska lakes.

In total, the virtual library states, Nebraska has received nearly $1.8 million in binational foundation grants, and exports from the Cornhusker State to Israel in 2022 totaled $53.8 million.

Ari Kohen, a political science professor and director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, which hosts the one-month study abroad at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, said the program was designed by multiple Harris Center faculty over many years before its debut in 2019. Students went again in 2022.

“It is a study abroad experience that you can’t really get anywhere else,” Kohen said. “We have curated this education for UNL students, and I’m really proud of it.”

Kohen said that while he teaches about the Arab-Israeli conflict in Lincoln, the program means students “have a window” into the conflict, people, cultures, religions, traditions and more and can form opinions for themselves. He said this is better than the Lincoln course.&nbsp;

He encouraged those interested in Arab-Israeli relationships to sign up and learn firsthand.

However, Synya said, the program is not equitable for all students. She said Palestinians, for example, might not be able to go to Israel or, if they did, they might not be as safe.

“The university can’t ethically provide any sort of academic opportunity that’s not equally accessible to students,” Synya said.

Kohen said he postponed the 2024 trip because he didn’t want to compromise on its goals. Travel in the region is significantly hindered, and many people remain displaced in the north and south.

“As a result, it wouldn’t be the same trip,” he said.

When there’s so much attention and interest, Kohen said, it would be a shame to limit education to one day of protest and cancel the trip, which he hopes “a ton of people” will want to enroll in.

Congressman speaks out against antisemitism

U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., whose district includes UNL, said in a statement Wednesday that “antisemitism has no place in America” and that “the message of the national protests” arrived at UNL on Wednesday.

“University leadership must be decisive and clear that Nebraska will not tolerate the violent and dangerous rhetoric that has shown up on college campuses across the country,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1785689553354830079">Flood said on X, formerly Twitter</a>.

Flood, in a followup statement to the Nebraska Examiner, said the national message he referred to is antisemitic rhetoric and policies, which he said includes the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”&nbsp;

Congress last month voted 377-44, with all Nebraska representatives in favor, to condemn that phrase as antisemitic.

The phrase was featured at the protest in chants and artwork, along with other chants aimed at Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying, “you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”

Protesters also encouraged Nebraska voters to write in “ceasefire” against President Joe Biden during Nebraska’s May 14 primary election.

Synya said her response to Flood or others with concerns is to “come on down and see for yourself” and have conversations because such accusations are taken seriously.

“We denounce all forms of antisemitism,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about at all.”

Multiple Jewish students and community members were also part of the protest, including Jewish Voices for Peace and a woman who said she was a descendant of Holocaust survivors.

Other speakers included a pediatric surgeon who worked in Gaza, professors who spoke about the Arab Spring, artists, the local NAACP chapter and Indigenous brothers and sisters.

Steve Laravie Jr., a descendant of Standing Bear, was one of three Indigenous members who encouraged Nebraskans to pray for Gaza and Palestinians. He said everyone must think of moving forward as human beings because the division is not about race, creed or religion.

“This is about the existence of the human being,” Laravie said.

“You are the majority, remember that,” he told Wednesday’s crowd. “You determine the reality, the life that you want.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714657637145.jpeg" alt="Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Protesters gathered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in solidarity with Palestinians, joining a host of other campus protests nationwide, demanding dislcosure and divestment of university investments into Israel. May 1, 2024.(Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/01/university-of-nebraska-joins-wave-of-campus-protests-in-support-of-palestine-gaza/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — More than 100 University of Nebraska-Lincoln students and community members gathered on campus in support of Palestine on Wednesday, joining a host of universities nationwide.UNL’s 10-hour “Liberated Zone for Palestine,” organized as a&nbsp;one-day event&nbsp;by Lincoln and UNL local chapters in support of Palestinians, set a different tone than other campus protests, which have featured&nbsp;multiple days&nbsp;of encampments and students barricading themselves inside school buildings. Many protests faced arrests or condemnation from local, state and federal leaders.Instead, the Lincoln event focused on short teach-ins, dances, chants and four demands made throughout the peaceful, daylong protest:<ul>
 <li>Disclose any university investments into Israel.</li><li>Divest from those commitments.</li><li>End a UNL-sponsored study abroad program in Jerusalem.</li><li>Prohibit future acceptance of grants or funds from Israel.</li>
 </ul>“We’re here because there are students, professors, administration and staff in Gaza who are experiencing a genocide,” Anna Synya, a UNL senior, told the Nebraska Examiner.<h2>‘We’re here for people in Gaza’</h2>Synya, outreach coordinator for Lincoln for Palestine and a member of UNL’s chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine, said the event was important because of the education it offered. She said that everyone got to leave safely, which hasn’t been true at other campuses.“I couldn’t really have asked for a better day when it comes to how things ran,” Synya said.She also emphasized that while protesters are concerned about students at other campuses, the reason UNL students came out was for Gaza, where every university has been bombed.“People seem to think we’re doing it in solidarity with Columbia (University) or something —&nbsp;I mean, I guess, we’re for freedom of speech, and it’s concerning when certain things happen —&nbsp;but really, we’re here for people in Gaza,” Synya said.As of May 1, at least&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/34568-palestinians-killed-gaza-since-oct-7-gaza-health-ministry-says-2024-05-01/#:~:text=DUBAI%2C%20May%201%20(Reuters),in%20a%20statement%20on%20Wednesday.">34,568 Palestinians</a>&nbsp;had been killed and another 77,765 wounded since Israel’s retaliation began after the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas, according to the Gaza health ministry.A small group of counter-protesters, one wearing an Israeli flag, briefly showed up at the protest but quickly left. The UNL Police Department maintained a minimal presence all day.<h2>Balancing expression and UNL’s mission</h2>UNL Chancellor Rodney Bennett, in a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.unl.edu/chancellor/a-message-from-the-chancellor-may-1">campuswide email</a>&nbsp;just before the 9 a.m. gathering, said the leaders of the event met with campus administrators and were told they could not jeopardize public safety, disrupt academic activities and campus operations or destroy property. He said UNL would also not allow tents or the formation of an encampment.“It has been my determination, and that of other university leaders, that this is the kind of ‘careful, deliberate and nuanced balance of interests’ called for by our university policy,” Bennett said.&nbsp;“My commitment to you is that both today, and in the days and weeks to come, we will work diligently to protect the freedom of expression, which we hold so dear, while ensuring that we continue to advance our mission of teaching, research and service,” Bennett continued. “Doing so is central to our identity and vital to our future.”University officials declined to comment on the protesters’ specific demands because they had not been presented to administrators and officials didn’t want to discuss how UNL would respond before that time, although the demands were&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.klkntv.com/pro-palestine-students-release-list-of-demands-ahead-of-protest-at-unl/">publicly available before Wednesday morning</a>.Synya said the demands were shared in person with campus leaders&nbsp;so she doesn’t know if they were “maybe just misremembering.”“As students we’re stakeholders in this community — we’re the customer here —&nbsp;so we’d like a response,” Synya said.<h2>Disclosures and investments</h2>Melissa Lee, a spokesperson for NU’s central administration, pointed to the university’s endowment holdings posted online and said anyone could review those reports.&nbsp;The “Fund N” reports —&nbsp;the portion of investments that NU has direct control over and includes donations and gifts made directly to the university — started in December 2020 in response to calls that year for NU to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.dailynebraskan.com/news/nu-board-of-regents-commit-to-sustainability-set-construction-date-for-155-million-football-facility/article_24165bf0-3683-11eb-a763-63ba8cfdae5f.html">divest from fossil fuel industries</a>. Other investments are managed by the NU Foundation.The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraska.edu/-/media/projects/unca/docs/transparency/investment/fund-n-holding-report-12-31-23.pdf">most recent Fund N report</a>&nbsp;was issued Dec. 31, 2023.“The endowment exists to support all students and the broad mission of the university,” Lee said. “It is not an advocacy tool.”The&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/nebraska-israel-cooperation">Jewish Virtual Library</a>&nbsp;details some of the State of Nebraska’s partnerships with the Middle East nation. It also outlines grants and research UNL faculty have collaborated on with researchers overseas, which came under fire from at least one protester.That protester’s demands mirrored the information listed through the library, including for UNL to end ties with the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation. They also called for UNL to fire certain faculty and end partnerships with various companies and departments, saying they are “working with war criminals.”In one case, a grant from the Israel National Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Water Commissioner’s Office, Israel Ministry of Science and the binational foundation supported research on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://calmit.unl.edu/detecting-toxic-blue-green-algal-blooms-nebraska-lakes">toxic algal blooms</a>&nbsp;in Nebraska lakes.In total, the virtual library states, Nebraska has received nearly $1.8 million in binational foundation grants, and exports from the Cornhusker State to Israel in 2022 totaled $53.8 million.<h2>Study abroad to Jerusalem</h2>Ari Kohen, a political science professor and director of the Norman and Bernice Harris Center for Judaic Studies, which hosts the one-month study abroad at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University, said the program was designed by multiple Harris Center faculty over many years before its debut in 2019. Students went again in 2022.“It is a study abroad experience that you can’t really get anywhere else,” Kohen said. “We have curated this education for UNL students, and I’m really proud of it.”Kohen said that while he teaches about the Arab-Israeli conflict in Lincoln, the program means students “have a window” into the conflict, people, cultures, religions, traditions and more and can form opinions for themselves. He said this is better than the Lincoln course.&nbsp;He encouraged those interested in Arab-Israeli relationships to sign up and learn firsthand.However, Synya said, the program is not equitable for all students. She said Palestinians, for example, might not be able to go to Israel or, if they did, they might not be as safe.“The university can’t ethically provide any sort of academic opportunity that’s not equally accessible to students,” Synya said.Kohen said he postponed the 2024 trip because he didn’t want to compromise on its goals. Travel in the region is significantly hindered, and many people remain displaced in the north and south.“As a result, it wouldn’t be the same trip,” he said.When there’s so much attention and interest, Kohen said, it would be a shame to limit education to one day of protest and cancel the trip, which he hopes “a ton of people” will want to enroll in.<h2>Congressman speaks out against antisemitism</h2>U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., whose district includes UNL, said in a statement Wednesday that “antisemitism has no place in America” and that “the message of the national protests” arrived at UNL on Wednesday.“University leadership must be decisive and clear that Nebraska will not tolerate the violent and dangerous rhetoric that has shown up on college campuses across the country,”&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://x.com/USRepMikeFlood/status/1785689553354830079">Flood said on X, formerly Twitter</a>.Flood, in a followup statement to the Nebraska Examiner, said the national message he referred to is antisemitic rhetoric and policies, which he said includes the chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”&nbsp;Congress last month voted 377-44, with all Nebraska representatives in favor, to condemn that phrase as antisemitic.The phrase was featured at the protest in chants and artwork, along with other chants aimed at Nebraska’s congressional delegation and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by name, saying, “you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”Protesters also encouraged Nebraska voters to write in “ceasefire” against President Joe Biden during Nebraska’s May 14 primary election.Synya said her response to Flood or others with concerns is to “come on down and see for yourself” and have conversations because such accusations are taken seriously.“We denounce all forms of antisemitism,” she said. “That’s not what we’re about at all.”<h2>‘Existence of the human being’</h2>Multiple Jewish students and community members were also part of the protest, including Jewish Voices for Peace and a woman who said she was a descendant of Holocaust survivors.Other speakers included a pediatric surgeon who worked in Gaza, professors who spoke about the Arab Spring, artists, the local NAACP chapter and Indigenous brothers and sisters.Steve Laravie Jr., a descendant of Standing Bear, was one of three Indigenous members who encouraged Nebraskans to pray for Gaza and Palestinians. He said everyone must think of moving forward as human beings because the division is not about race, creed or religion.“This is about the existence of the human being,” Laravie said.“You are the majority, remember that,” he told Wednesday’s crowd. “You determine the reality, the life that you want.”

University of Nebraska joins wave of campus protests in support of Palestine, Gaza

WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.

The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a>

The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.

The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.

There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.

E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.

FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.

Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714614484262.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON— Cargill Meat Solutions, a Hazleton, Pa., establishment, is recalling approximately 16,243 pounds of raw ground beef products that may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Wednesday.The raw ground beef items were produced on April 26-27, 2024. The following products are subject to recall&nbsp; Click <a href="https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/food_label_pdf/2024-05/recall-labels-016-2024.pdf">here to view all labels</a><ul>
 <li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "93% LEAN 7% FAT ALL NATURAL LEAN GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "PRIME RIB BEEF STEAK BURGERS PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "85% LEAN 15% FAT ALL NATURAL ANGUS PREMIUM GROUND BEEF" with lot code 117 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>2.25-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "80% LEAN 20% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF CHUCK PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li><li>1.33-lbs. plastic-wrapped trays containing four "90% LEAN 10% FAT ALL NATURAL GROUND BEEF SIRLOIN PATTIES" with lot code 118 and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the label.</li>
 </ul>The products subject to recall all bear the USDA mark of inspection on the front of the product label, and establishment number "EST. 86P" printed on the back of the product label. These items were shipped to Walmart retail locations nationwide.The establishment reported the issue to FSIS after they identified that previously segregated product had been inadvertently utilized in the production of ground beef.There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions due to consumption of these products. Anyone concerned about an illness should contact a healthcare provider.E. coli&nbsp;O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause dehydration, bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps 2-8 days (3-4 days, on average) after exposure the organism. While most people recover within a week, some develop a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This condition can occur among persons of any age but is most common in children under 5-years old and older adults. It is marked by easy bruising, pallor, and decreased urine output. Persons who experience these symptoms should seek emergency medical care immediately.FSIS is concerned that some product may be in consumers' refrigerators or freezers. Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them. These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.Consumers with questions about the recall can contact Cargill Meat Solutions at 1-844-419-1574. Members of the media with questions about the recall can contact Chuck Miller, Senior Communications Manager, Cargill Meat Solutions at 612-430-2882 or media@cargill.com.Consumers with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:MPHotline@usda.gov">MPHotline@usda.gov</a>. For consumers that need to report a problem with a meat, poultry, or egg product, the online Electronic Consumer Complaint Monitoring System can be accessed 24 hours a day at&nbsp;<a href="https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/">https://foodcomplaint.fsis.usda.gov/eCCF/</a>

16,000 pounds of ground beef recalled nationwide over E. coli concern

Nebraska Public Service Commission

Lincoln, April 30, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $680,000 as a part of the inaugural Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant(PRO- AG) program (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2024-04-30%20C-5529%20Order%20Issuing%20Grant%20Awards.pdf" target="_blank">C-5529</a>).

“These initial grants will help fund innovative projects designed to advance precision agricultureacross the state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “We look forward to seeing thebenefits that these projects have for ag producers and the industry.”

Created by the Precision Agriculture Grant Act, Neb Rev. Stat.§86-1401, the PRO-AG programmakes available nearly one million dollars in grants annually to boost rural economicdevelopment through connectivity, sustainability, traceability, and autonomy for farm sites inunserved areas of Nebraska.

The PRO-AG program is divided into two distinct subprograms, Connectivity, and Devices andTechnology. During the 2023-2024 grant cycle the Commission received 20 applications forfunding. Upon review of the applications received, the Commission determined 11 submissionswould be funded. Three grants were awarded in the Connectivity subprogram for a total of$391,280 and eight grants were awarded in the Devices and Technology subprogram for a totalof $287,336.29. Grant dollars not awarded during the initial cycle will carry over to the nextgrant cycle.

Commissioner Watermeier said, “We appreciate the insights and experience gained through thisfirst round of grants and are optimistic of the potential for future awards to support innovativePRO-Ag projects.”

Projects funded through today’s awards must be completed by April 30, 2025. A list of the projects approved through the PRO-AG program can be found on the PSC website&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture</a>&nbsp;&gt;.&nbsp;

Nebraska Public Service CommissionLincoln, April 30, 2024- The Nebraska Public Service Commission has awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $680,000 as a part of the inaugural Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grant(PRO- AG) program (<a href="https://www.nebraska.gov/psc/orders/telecom/2024-04-30%20C-5529%20Order%20Issuing%20Grant%20Awards.pdf" target="_blank">C-5529</a>).“These initial grants will help fund innovative projects designed to advance precision agricultureacross the state,” said Commission Chair Dan Watermeier. “We look forward to seeing thebenefits that these projects have for ag producers and the industry.”Created by the Precision Agriculture Grant Act, Neb Rev. Stat.§86-1401, the PRO-AG programmakes available nearly one million dollars in grants annually to boost rural economicdevelopment through connectivity, sustainability, traceability, and autonomy for farm sites inunserved areas of Nebraska.The PRO-AG program is divided into two distinct subprograms, Connectivity, and Devices andTechnology. During the 2023-2024 grant cycle the Commission received 20 applications forfunding. Upon review of the applications received, the Commission determined 11 submissionswould be funded. Three grants were awarded in the Connectivity subprogram for a total of$391,280 and eight grants were awarded in the Devices and Technology subprogram for a totalof $287,336.29. Grant dollars not awarded during the initial cycle will carry over to the nextgrant cycle.Commissioner Watermeier said, “We appreciate the insights and experience gained through thisfirst round of grants and are optimistic of the potential for future awards to support innovativePRO-Ag projects.”Projects funded through today’s awards must be completed by April 30, 2025. A list of the projects approved through the PRO-AG program can be found on the PSC website&lt;&nbsp;<a href="https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture" target="_blank">https://psc.nebraska.gov/precision-agriculture</a>&nbsp;&gt;.&nbsp;

PSC Awards Precision Agriculture Infrastructure Grants

LINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has published its annual Agricultural and International Trade Report again highlighting the importance of international trade to the bottom-line of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. The report release comes shortly after a House Ways and Means Committee hearing centered on trade, emphasizing the importance of a proactive strategy in expanding markets for American agriculture to the Biden administration. The report,&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>,”&nbsp;is the latest in a series of analysis highlighting the importance of agricultural trade to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, rural communities, as well as the state’s broader economy.

“Our analysis shows that trade is vitally important to the economic future of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not effectively pushed for increased market opportunities for farmers and ranchers while also struggling to consistently enforce provisions of trade deals that enable farmers to sell their products overseas,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.

Expanding markets, both within the country and overseas, for agricultural products from Nebraska is a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. NEFB plays an active role in trade missions with the governor, while McHargue leads the American Farm Bureau Trade Subcommittee, showcasing a firm dedication to improving export prospects.

“Nebraska farmers and ranchers depend on export markets for nearly a third of their agricultural production. Which is why this issue is a primary focus for NEFB and why we urge the Biden administration and Congress to continue discussions with our key export partners and those with potential for growth. It is crucial to consider how trade initiatives can best enhance agricultural exports for our state and our nation,” said McHargue.

The report, issued annually since 2017, acts as a barometer demonstrating the importance of trade to farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska’s economy. The estimates are calculated using the 2022 USDA trade numbers released in October 2023.

International trade has been a big win for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with agricultural exports making up about 30 percent of their earnings. The&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report provides a comprehensive look at Nebraska agricultural trade, showing how different commodities impact the economy and benefit farmers, ranchers, and counties across the state.

“Nebraska was once again the fifth-largest agricultural exporting state in 2022 with exported agricultural commodities worth $9.97 billion,&nbsp;marking the third consecutive year of record-setting exports,” said Jay Rempe, economist of Rolling Prairie Economics and author of the report.

According to the report, soybeans, corn, and beef remained solidly entrenched as Nebraska’s top agricultural exports, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total exports. Soybeans were the top export commodity, up 23 percent from the prior year. The USDA attributed that growth to increased prices and a strong demand in most top export markets.

“Nebraska is the fifth-largest exporter of soybeans at $2.3 billion. In 2022, China was the largest soybean purchaser, but growth was also seen from Mexico, the European Union, Egypt, and Japan. Exports are a growing part of Nebraska’s agricultural sales—exports in 2022 were four times greater than those in 2000,” said Rempe.

The report shows Nebraska leads the nation in exports of beef at $1.86 billion. The value of Nebraska beef exports rose 13%, setting a record. The report also shows Nebraska’s corn exports were off 4%, but still finishing as the second highest on record at $2.25 billion placing Nebraska as the nation’s third-largest exporter of corn.

“Like soybeans, China was the largest buyer of corn, followed by Mexico and Japan. Exports to these three countries accounted for 71% of total United States corn exports, while South Korea, Japan, and China accounted for 62% of United States beef exports,” said Rempe.

According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, much of Nebraska’s agricultural trade success can be tied to free trade agreements. While 2022 numbers show record-setting amounts, initial figures for 2023 are not as promising: highlighting the effects of inaction by the Biden administration to pursue an ambitious trade agenda that benefits Nebraska’s farm and ranch families as well as Nebraska’s economy as a whole.

“Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn, the lack of work by the Biden Administration to pursue new free trade agreements, along with the failure to enforce China’s obligations to increase purchases under the previously signed Phase 1 trade pact all act as headwinds to our efforts to grow international export markets. Failure to move forward with much of a trade agenda at all has put Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage on the world stage, resulting in a projected agriculture trade deficit of $21.5 billion in 2023,” said McHargue. “Expanding international markets is vital to Nebraska’s farm and ranch families economically, while also helping them provide food, fiber, and energy to families around the globe.”

Nebraska Farm Bureau expects the value of trade in 2023 for Nebraska and counties will be down compared to the 2022 figures outlined in this report.&nbsp;Nebraska Farm Bureau’s&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report is available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a 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>.

Nebraska Farm BurueaLINCOLN, NEB. – Nebraska Farm Bureau has published its annual Agricultural and International Trade Report again highlighting the importance of international trade to the bottom-line of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. The report release comes shortly after a House Ways and Means Committee hearing centered on trade, emphasizing the importance of a proactive strategy in expanding markets for American agriculture to the Biden administration. The report,&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>,”&nbsp;is the latest in a series of analysis highlighting the importance of agricultural trade to Nebraska farmers, ranchers, rural communities, as well as the state’s broader economy.“Our analysis shows that trade is vitally important to the economic future of Nebraska’s farm and ranch families. Unfortunately, the Biden administration has not effectively pushed for increased market opportunities for farmers and ranchers while also struggling to consistently enforce provisions of trade deals that enable farmers to sell their products overseas,” said Nebraska Farm Bureau President Mark McHargue.Expanding markets, both within the country and overseas, for agricultural products from Nebraska is a top priority for Nebraska Farm Bureau. NEFB plays an active role in trade missions with the governor, while McHargue leads the American Farm Bureau Trade Subcommittee, showcasing a firm dedication to improving export prospects.“Nebraska farmers and ranchers depend on export markets for nearly a third of their agricultural production. Which is why this issue is a primary focus for NEFB and why we urge the Biden administration and Congress to continue discussions with our key export partners and those with potential for growth. It is crucial to consider how trade initiatives can best enhance agricultural exports for our state and our nation,” said McHargue.The report, issued annually since 2017, acts as a barometer demonstrating the importance of trade to farmers, ranchers, and Nebraska’s economy. The estimates are calculated using the 2022 USDA trade numbers released in October 2023.International trade has been a big win for Nebraska farmers and ranchers, with agricultural exports making up about 30 percent of their earnings. The&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report provides a comprehensive look at Nebraska agricultural trade, showing how different commodities impact the economy and benefit farmers, ranchers, and counties across the state.“Nebraska was once again the fifth-largest agricultural exporting state in 2022 with exported agricultural commodities worth $9.97 billion,&nbsp;marking the third consecutive year of record-setting exports,” said Jay Rempe, economist of Rolling Prairie Economics and author of the report.According to the report, soybeans, corn, and beef remained solidly entrenched as Nebraska’s top agricultural exports, accounting for nearly two-thirds of total exports. Soybeans were the top export commodity, up 23 percent from the prior year. The USDA attributed that growth to increased prices and a strong demand in most top export markets.“Nebraska is the fifth-largest exporter of soybeans at $2.3 billion. In 2022, China was the largest soybean purchaser, but growth was also seen from Mexico, the European Union, Egypt, and Japan. Exports are a growing part of Nebraska’s agricultural sales—exports in 2022 were four times greater than those in 2000,” said Rempe.The report shows Nebraska leads the nation in exports of beef at $1.86 billion. The value of Nebraska beef exports rose 13%, setting a record. The report also shows Nebraska’s corn exports were off 4%, but still finishing as the second highest on record at $2.25 billion placing Nebraska as the nation’s third-largest exporter of corn.“Like soybeans, China was the largest buyer of corn, followed by Mexico and Japan. Exports to these three countries accounted for 71% of total United States corn exports, while South Korea, Japan, and China accounted for 62% of United States beef exports,” said Rempe.According to Nebraska Farm Bureau, much of Nebraska’s agricultural trade success can be tied to free trade agreements. While 2022 numbers show record-setting amounts, initial figures for 2023 are not as promising: highlighting the effects of inaction by the Biden administration to pursue an ambitious trade agenda that benefits Nebraska’s farm and ranch families as well as Nebraska’s economy as a whole.“Mexico’s ban on genetically modified white corn, the lack of work by the Biden Administration to pursue new free trade agreements, along with the failure to enforce China’s obligations to increase purchases under the previously signed Phase 1 trade pact all act as headwinds to our efforts to grow international export markets. Failure to move forward with much of a trade agenda at all has put Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers at a disadvantage on the world stage, resulting in a projected agriculture trade deficit of $21.5 billion in 2023,” said McHargue. “Expanding international markets is vital to Nebraska’s farm and ranch families economically, while also helping them provide food, fiber, and energy to families around the globe.”Nebraska Farm Bureau expects the value of trade in 2023 for Nebraska and counties will be down compared to the 2022 figures outlined in this report.&nbsp;Nebraska Farm Bureau’s&nbsp;“<a href="https://www.nefb.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/neagriculture-internationaltrade_2022_final.pdf" target="_blank">Nebraska Agriculture and International Trade</a>”&nbsp;report is available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nefb.org/" target="_blank">www.nefb.org</a>.The Nebraska Farm Bureau is a 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>.

Report Shows Third Consecutive Year for Record-Setting Exports, Outlook Not as Promising for Agricultural Trade

Lincoln, NE – May 1, 2024 – A $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 prize from December 2023 is about to expire.

For the December 3, 2023, drawing, a $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 winning ticket was sold at Kwik Shop #648, 1403 Harlan Street in Falls City. The ticket matched all five winning numbers (03, 10, 11, 17, 28) for the jackpot prize.

Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Players are encouraged to check their tickets and claim any prizes as soon as possible.

Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed at Nebraska Lottery Headquarters, 137 NW 17th Street in Lincoln. The $200,000 Pick 5 prize will expire Friday, May 31. Visit the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, for more information on claiming prizes.

Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $10,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 658,008 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 9.2.

The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $978 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Neil WatsonNebraska LotteryLincoln, NE – May 1, 2024 – A $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 prize from December 2023 is about to expire.For the December 3, 2023, drawing, a $200,000 Nebraska Pick 5 winning ticket was sold at Kwik Shop #648, 1403 Harlan Street in Falls City. The ticket matched all five winning numbers (03, 10, 11, 17, 28) for the jackpot prize.Winning Nebraska Lottery Lotto tickets expire 180 days after the drawing. Players are encouraged to check their tickets and claim any prizes as soon as possible.Prizes of $20,000 or more must be claimed at Nebraska Lottery Headquarters, 137 NW 17th Street in Lincoln. The $200,000 Pick 5 prize will expire Friday, May 31. Visit the Nebraska Lottery website,&nbsp;<a href="http://nelottery.com/" target="_blank">nelottery.com</a>, for more information on claiming prizes.Nebraska Pick 5 is Nebraska’s unique Lottery game: all the proceeds from Nebraska Pick 5 stay in Nebraska, and all the winning tickets are sold in Nebraska at Nebraska Lottery Lotto game retailers. The odds of winning the Nebraska Pick 5 jackpot, which starts at $50,000 and grows by $10,000 each drawing that is not won, are 1 in 658,008 while the overall odds of winning a prize in the game, which has drawings seven nights a week, are 1 in 9.2.The mission of the Nebraska Lottery is to generate proceeds for good causes while providing quality entertainment options to Nebraskans. Over $978 million has been raised for the Nebraska Lottery’s beneficiary funds since the Lottery began in 1993. All 93 counties in Nebraska have benefited from projects funded with these Nebraska Lottery proceeds.

Nebraska Pick 5 Jackpot Winning Ticket Sold in Falls City Expires Soon

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday emphasized that inflation has remained stubbornly high in recent months and said it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases are slowing sustainably to its 2% target.

The Fed issued its decision in a statement after its latest meeting, at which it kept its key rate at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%. Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have recently undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was steadily easing. The combination of high interest rates and persistent inflation has also emerged as a potential threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.

“In recent months," Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference, “inflation has shown a lack of further progress toward our 2% objective."

“It is likely that gaining greater confidence,” Powell added, "will take longer than previously expected.”

The central bank’s latest message reflects an abrupt shift in its timetable on interest rates. As recently as their last meeting on March 20, the Fed’s policymakers had projected three rate reductions in 2024, likely starting in June. Rate cuts by the Fed would lead, over time, to lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.

But given the persistence of elevated inflation, financial markets now expect just one rate cut this year, in November, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch.

The Fed’s more cautious outlook stems from three months of data that pointed to chronic inflation pressures and robust consumer spending. Inflation has cooled from a peak of 7.1%, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, to 2.7%, as supply chains have eased and the cost of some goods has actually declined.

Average prices, though, remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and the costs of services ranging from apartment rents and health care to restaurant meals and auto insurance continue to surge. With the presidential election six months away, many Americans have expressed discontent with the economy, notably over the pace of price increases.

On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would slow the pace at which it’s unwinding one of its biggest COVID-era policies: Its purchase of several trillion dollars in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, an effort to stabilize financial markets and keep longer-term rates low.

The Fed is now allowing $95 billion of those securities to mature each month, without replacing them. Its holdings have fallen to about $7.4 trillion, down from $8.9 trillion in June 2022, when it began reducing them. On Wednesday, the Fed said it would, in June, reduce its holdings at a slower pace, and allow a total of $60 billion of bonds to run off each month.

By cutting back its holdings, the Fed could contribute to keeping longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, higher than they would be otherwise. That’s because as it reduces its bond holdings, other buyers will have to buy the securities instead, and rates might have to rise to attract the needed buyers.

The U.S. economy is healthier and hiring stronger than most economists thought it would be at this point. The unemployment rate has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-1e456b8df0e11b218ed50f1ead6f6797">below 4% for more than two years</a>, the longest such streak since the 1960s. And while economic growth reached just a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-5a64d255a09313dabe54954060a09530">1.6% annual pace</a>&nbsp;in the first three months of this year, consumer spending grew at a robust pace, a sign that the economy will keep expanding.

That economic strength has caused some Fed officials to speculate that the current level of interest rates might not be high enough to have the cooling effect on the economy and inflation that they need. If so, the Fed might even decide to switch back to rate increases at some point.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve on Wednesday emphasized that inflation has remained stubbornly high in recent months and said it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases are slowing sustainably to its 2% target.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fed Chair Powel: &quot;Today, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FOMC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FOMC</a> decided to leave our policy interest rate unchanged and to continue to reduce our securities holdings, though at a slower pace.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/i8R4v5dxY2">pic.twitter.com/i8R4v5dxY2</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1785747678443323646?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The Fed issued its decision in a statement after its latest meeting, at which it kept its key rate at a two-decade high of roughly 5.3%. Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have recently undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was steadily easing. The combination of high interest rates and persistent inflation has also emerged as a potential threat to President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.“In recent months," Chair Jerome Powell said at a news conference, “inflation has shown a lack of further progress toward our 2% objective."“It is likely that gaining greater confidence,” Powell added, "will take longer than previously expected.”The central bank’s latest message reflects an abrupt shift in its timetable on interest rates. As recently as their last meeting on March 20, the Fed’s policymakers had projected three rate reductions in 2024, likely starting in June. Rate cuts by the Fed would lead, over time, to lower borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, including for mortgages, auto loans and credit cards.But given the persistence of elevated inflation, financial markets now expect just one rate cut this year, in November, according to futures prices tracked by CME FedWatch.The Fed’s more cautious outlook stems from three months of data that pointed to chronic inflation pressures and robust consumer spending. Inflation has cooled from a peak of 7.1%, according to the Fed’s preferred measure, to 2.7%, as supply chains have eased and the cost of some goods has actually declined.Average prices, though, remain well above their pre-pandemic levels, and the costs of services ranging from apartment rents and health care to restaurant meals and auto insurance continue to surge. With the presidential election six months away, many Americans have expressed discontent with the economy, notably over the pace of price increases.On Wednesday, the Fed also said it would slow the pace at which it’s unwinding one of its biggest COVID-era policies: Its purchase of several trillion dollars in Treasury securities and mortgage-backed bonds, an effort to stabilize financial markets and keep longer-term rates low.The Fed is now allowing $95 billion of those securities to mature each month, without replacing them. Its holdings have fallen to about $7.4 trillion, down from $8.9 trillion in June 2022, when it began reducing them. On Wednesday, the Fed said it would, in June, reduce its holdings at a slower pace, and allow a total of $60 billion of bonds to run off each month.By cutting back its holdings, the Fed could contribute to keeping longer-term rates, including mortgage rates, higher than they would be otherwise. That’s because as it reduces its bond holdings, other buyers will have to buy the securities instead, and rates might have to rise to attract the needed buyers.The U.S. economy is healthier and hiring stronger than most economists thought it would be at this point. The unemployment rate has remained&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-unemployment-economy-inflation-federal-reserve-1e456b8df0e11b218ed50f1ead6f6797">below 4% for more than two years</a>, the longest such streak since the 1960s. And while economic growth reached just a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/economy-growth-inflation-gdp-consumers-federal-reserve-5a64d255a09313dabe54954060a09530">1.6% annual pace</a>&nbsp;in the first three months of this year, consumer spending grew at a robust pace, a sign that the economy will keep expanding.That economic strength has caused some Fed officials to speculate that the current level of interest rates might not be high enough to have the cooling effect on the economy and inflation that they need. If so, the Fed might even decide to switch back to rate increases at some point.

Bad news for borrowers: Interest rates stay at 23-year high

Chadron, Neb., May 1, 2024—On August 9th, Smokey Bear will turn 80 years old. There will be opportunities to see Smokey at Forest, Grassland and community events all over the footprint of Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (NNFG).&nbsp;&nbsp;

The celebration starts today with a coloring contest open to area students, with categories for&nbsp;&nbsp;

ages 3-6, 7-11, and 12-15. Students can print coloring pages from the 80th celebration’s website,&nbsp; or pick them up at local NNFG office and visitor center locations. The coloring pages must be&nbsp;&nbsp;

turned in by July 31st, either to a local NNFG US Forest Service office location, mailed via US&nbsp;&nbsp;

Postal Service: Smokey Bear Coloring Contest c/o Supervisor's Office, 125 N. Main Street,&nbsp;&nbsp;

Chadron, NE 69337 - or emailed to SM.FS.nnf_info@usda.gov. There will be a winner selected&nbsp; from each category and they will receive a tree from NNFG’s own Bessey Nursery, in Halsey, NE.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The celebration website will also have a running list of events happening throughout the&nbsp;&nbsp;

summer, and events will be announced on NNFG’s social media sites. We post notification of&nbsp;&nbsp;

operations on our Facebook page; (https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaForestsGrasslands/),&nbsp; and on X @USFSNebraska. Events currently planned are as follows:&nbsp;&nbsp;

• Smokey Bear will greet students from Burwell, NE, May 2nd, students from Mullen,&nbsp;

NE, on May 3rd, and Stapleton &amp; Halsey, NE on May 13th at Bessey Ranger District&nbsp;

• Smokey Bear appearance at Broken Bow Library May 22nd&nbsp;

• Smokey Bear appearance at Chadron Public Library May 25th&nbsp;

We look forward to seeing you out there, celebrating 80 years of Smokey’s lessons about how to avoid human caused wildfire.&nbsp;

U.S. Forest ServiceChadron, Neb., May 1, 2024—On August 9th, Smokey Bear will turn 80 years old. There will be opportunities to see Smokey at Forest, Grassland and community events all over the footprint of Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands (NNFG).&nbsp;&nbsp;The celebration starts today with a coloring contest open to area students, with categories for&nbsp;&nbsp;ages 3-6, 7-11, and 12-15. Students can print coloring pages from the 80th celebration’s website,&nbsp; or pick them up at local NNFG office and visitor center locations. The coloring pages must be&nbsp;&nbsp;turned in by July 31st, either to a local NNFG US Forest Service office location, mailed via US&nbsp;&nbsp;Postal Service: Smokey Bear Coloring Contest c/o Supervisor's Office, 125 N. Main Street,&nbsp;&nbsp;Chadron, NE 69337 - or emailed to SM.FS.nnf_info@usda.gov. There will be a winner selected&nbsp; from each category and they will receive a tree from NNFG’s own Bessey Nursery, in Halsey, NE.&nbsp;&nbsp;The celebration website will also have a running list of events happening throughout the&nbsp;&nbsp;summer, and events will be announced on NNFG’s social media sites. We post notification of&nbsp;&nbsp;operations on our Facebook page; (https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaForestsGrasslands/),&nbsp; and on X @USFSNebraska. Events currently planned are as follows:&nbsp;&nbsp;• Smokey Bear will greet students from Burwell, NE, May 2nd, students from Mullen,&nbsp;NE, on May 3rd, and Stapleton &amp; Halsey, NE on May 13th at Bessey Ranger District&nbsp;• Smokey Bear appearance at Broken Bow Library May 22nd&nbsp;• Smokey Bear appearance at Chadron Public Library May 25th&nbsp;We look forward to seeing you out there, celebrating 80 years of Smokey’s lessons about how to avoid human caused wildfire.&nbsp;

Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands to Celebrate  Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-policies-general-conference-fa9a335a74bdd58d138163401cd51b54">United Methodist</a>&nbsp;delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.

Delegates voted 692-51 at their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>&nbsp;— the first such legislative gathering in five years. That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the decades of controversy around the issue. Past General Conferences of the United Methodist Church had steadily reinforced the ban and related penalties amid debate and protests, but many of the conservatives who had previously upheld the ban have left the denomination in recent years, and this General Conference has moved in a solidly progressive direction.

Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote. A group of observers from LGBTQ advocacy groups embraced, some in tears. “Thanks be to God,” said one.

The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them. It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions. The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.

The consensus was so overwhelmingly that it was rolled into a “consent calendar,” a package of normally non-controversial measures that are bundled into a single vote to save time.

Also approved was a measure that forbids district superintendents — a regional administrator — from penalizing clergy for either performing a same-sex wedding or for refraining from performing one. It also forbids superintendents from forbidding or requiring a church from hosting a same-sex wedding.

That measure further removes scaffolding around the various LGBTQ bans that have been embedded various parts of official church law and policy. On Tuesday, delegates had begun taking steps to dismantle such policies.

Delegates are also expected to vote as soon as today on whether to replace their existing official Social Principles with a new document that no longer calls the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching” and that now defines marriage as between “two people of faith” rather than between a man and a woman.

The changes are historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years. On Tuesday, delegates voted to remove mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.

About 100 LGBTQ people and allies gathered outside the Charlotte Convention Center after the vote — many with rainbow-colored scarves and umbrellas — to celebrate, pray and sing praise songs accompanied by a drum.

Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, was among those celebrating.

“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Oliveto, of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area, which includes Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. “People can live fully into their call without fear. The church we’ve loved has found a home for us.”

Angie Cox, an observer at the meeting from Ohio, said she has gone before her conference’s board of ordained ministry six times but was “told no just because of the prohibition on LGBTQ clergy.” She said Wednesday’s vote “means I might be able finally to live fully into my calling.”

Tracy Merrick, a delegate from Pittsburgh who has advocated for LGBTQ inclusion at several previous conferences, said with emotion that there were “many times when I thought we would never see this day.”

The vote, he said, enables the church to become “the denomination that many of us had envisioned for years.”

At the same time, the vote comes following the departure of one-quarter of the U.S. churches within the UMC. And it could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in Africa, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.

Last week, the conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-disaffiliation-lgbtq-regionalization-samesex-marriage-d429bb838c31f1899dbc48fbddb03197">endorsed a regionalization plan</a>&nbsp;that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change — which still requires local ratification — could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions.

More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States disaffiliated between 2019 and 2023 reflecting dismay over the denomination not enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.

The conference last week also approved the departure of a small group of conservative churches in the former Soviet Union.

The church's 1972 General Conference approved a statement in its non-binding Social Principles that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching" — a phrase omitted in a revision to the Social Principles that is also headed for a conference vote this week.

The now-repealed ban on clergy who are "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" was originally enacted in 1984, when the conference also voted to require “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness.”

The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.

The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714584867565.png" alt="Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) and her wife, Robin Ridenour, react on May 1 after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Paul Jeffrey, courtesy UM News" />
 <figcaption>Bishop Karen Oliveto (right) and her wife, Robin Ridenour, react on May 1 after the United Methodist General Conference, meeting in Charlotte, N.C., voted to remove the denomination's ban on the ordination of clergy who are “self-avowed practicing homosexuals.” Photo by Paul Jeffrey, courtesy UM News</figcaption>
 </figure>CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-church-lgbtq-policies-general-conference-fa9a335a74bdd58d138163401cd51b54">United Methodist</a>&nbsp;delegates repealed their church’s longstanding ban on LGBTQ clergy with no debate on Wednesday, removing a rule forbidding “self-avowed practicing homosexuals” from being ordained or appointed as ministers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714576518780.png" alt="Image from the General Conference livestream" />
 <figcaption>Image from the General Conference livestream</figcaption>
 </figure>Delegates voted 692-51 at their&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodists-schism-lgbtq-samesex-marriage-8b428597c86901b2d5886afeca5069c8">General Conference</a>&nbsp;— the first such legislative gathering in five years. That overwhelming margin contrasts sharply with the decades of controversy around the issue. Past General Conferences of the United Methodist Church had steadily reinforced the ban and related penalties amid debate and protests, but many of the conservatives who had previously upheld the ban have left the denomination in recent years, and this General Conference has moved in a solidly progressive direction.Applause broke out in parts of the convention hall Wednesday after the vote. A group of observers from LGBTQ advocacy groups embraced, some in tears. “Thanks be to God,” said one.The change doesn’t mandate or even explicitly affirm LGBTQ clergy, but it means the church no longer forbids them. It’s possible that the change will mainly apply to U.S. churches, since United Methodist bodies in other countries, such as in Africa, have the right to impose the rules for their own regions. The measure takes effect immediately upon the conclusion of General Conference, scheduled for Friday.The consensus was so overwhelmingly that it was rolled into a “consent calendar,” a package of normally non-controversial measures that are bundled into a single vote to save time.Also approved was a measure that forbids district superintendents — a regional administrator — from penalizing clergy for either performing a same-sex wedding or for refraining from performing one. It also forbids superintendents from forbidding or requiring a church from hosting a same-sex wedding.That measure further removes scaffolding around the various LGBTQ bans that have been embedded various parts of official church law and policy. On Tuesday, delegates had begun taking steps to dismantle such policies.Delegates are also expected to vote as soon as today on whether to replace their existing official Social Principles with a new document that no longer calls the “practice of homosexuality … incompatible with Christian teaching” and that now defines marriage as between “two people of faith” rather than between a man and a woman.The changes are historic in a denomination that has debated LGBTQ issues for more than half a century at its General Conferences, which typically meet every four years. On Tuesday, delegates voted to remove mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on funding for gay-friendly ministries.About 100 LGBTQ people and allies gathered outside the Charlotte Convention Center after the vote — many with rainbow-colored scarves and umbrellas — to celebrate, pray and sing praise songs accompanied by a drum.Bishop Karen Oliveto, the first openly lesbian bishop in the United Methodist Church, was among those celebrating.“It seemed like such a simple vote, but it carried so much weight and power, as 50 years of restricting the Holy Spirit’s call on people’s lives has been lifted,” said Oliveto, of the Mountain Sky Episcopal Area, which includes Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. “People can live fully into their call without fear. The church we’ve loved has found a home for us.”Angie Cox, an observer at the meeting from Ohio, said she has gone before her conference’s board of ordained ministry six times but was “told no just because of the prohibition on LGBTQ clergy.” She said Wednesday’s vote “means I might be able finally to live fully into my calling.”Tracy Merrick, a delegate from Pittsburgh who has advocated for LGBTQ inclusion at several previous conferences, said with emotion that there were “many times when I thought we would never see this day.”The vote, he said, enables the church to become “the denomination that many of us had envisioned for years.”At the same time, the vote comes following the departure of one-quarter of the U.S. churches within the UMC. And it could also prompt departures of some international churches, particularly in Africa, where more conservative sexual values prevail and where same-sex activity is criminalized in some countries.Last week, the conference&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/united-methodist-disaffiliation-lgbtq-regionalization-samesex-marriage-d429bb838c31f1899dbc48fbddb03197">endorsed a regionalization plan</a>&nbsp;that essentially would allow the churches of the United States the same autonomy as other regions of the global church. That change — which still requires local ratification — could create a scenario where LGBTQ clergy and same-sex marriage are allowed in the United States but not in other regions.More than 7,600 mostly conservative congregations in the United States disaffiliated between 2019 and 2023 reflecting dismay over the denomination not enforcing its bans on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ ordination.The conference last week also approved the departure of a small group of conservative churches in the former Soviet Union.The church's 1972 General Conference approved a statement in its non-binding Social Principles that homosexuality is “incompatible with Christian teaching" — a phrase omitted in a revision to the Social Principles that is also headed for a conference vote this week.The now-repealed ban on clergy who are "self-avowed practicing homosexuals" was originally enacted in 1984, when the conference also voted to require “fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness.”The denomination had until recently been the third largest in the United States, present in almost every county. But its 5.4 million U.S. membership in 2022 is expected to drop once the 2023 departures are factored in.The denomination also counts 4.6 million members in other countries, mainly in Africa, though earlier estimates have been higher.

General Conference: United Methodists end ban on gay clergy 

Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

NEBRASKA (MAY 1, 2024)&nbsp;— The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) is now accepting applications for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Grant Assistance Program. Grant funds are meant to support&nbsp;qualifying postsecondary institutions in assisting DPAA with accounting for United States servicemembers and civilians missing from designated past conflicts.

Grant applicants must be Nebraska postsecondary institutions that have received NDVA’s Veteran and Active Duty Supportive designation and have a partnership or service agreement with DPAA to establish or expand undergraduate and graduate student internships. NDVA will begin reviewing applications on May 20, 2024, and will award funds on a rolling basis from that date forward until all funds have been committed.

Full details on the fund, including eligibility, requirements, application, and more can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/dpaagrant" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov/dpaagrant</a>. For questions regarding the grant application or funding process, please contact Jessica Forch at 402-853-4023 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jessica.forch@nebraska.gov">Jessica.forch@nebraska.gov</a>.

The&nbsp;Veteran and Active Duty Supportive designation was launched in 2019 and recognizes postsecondary institutions that meet certain criteria such as having personnel dedicated to working with military and veteran students, giving college credit for certain types of military training, and offering military leave-of-absence, among other things.&nbsp;Information on the&nbsp;designation, including currently designated postsecondary institutions and how to apply for the designation, can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/postsecondary" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov/postsecondary</a>.

NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. This includes providing services to help veterans identify and access federal and state benefits. These benefits include disability compensation, pensions, and healthcare available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, assistance through the Nebraska Veterans Aid fund, tuition waivers, and other state services. To learn more about NDVA’s veteran services or Nebraska state benefits, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

Nebraska Department of Veterans' AffairsNEBRASKA (MAY 1, 2024)&nbsp;— The Nebraska Department of Veterans’ Affairs (NDVA) is now accepting applications for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) Grant Assistance Program. Grant funds are meant to support&nbsp;qualifying postsecondary institutions in assisting DPAA with accounting for United States servicemembers and civilians missing from designated past conflicts.Grant applicants must be Nebraska postsecondary institutions that have received NDVA’s Veteran and Active Duty Supportive designation and have a partnership or service agreement with DPAA to establish or expand undergraduate and graduate student internships. NDVA will begin reviewing applications on May 20, 2024, and will award funds on a rolling basis from that date forward until all funds have been committed.Full details on the fund, including eligibility, requirements, application, and more can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/dpaagrant" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov/dpaagrant</a>. For questions regarding the grant application or funding process, please contact Jessica Forch at 402-853-4023 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:Jessica.forch@nebraska.gov">Jessica.forch@nebraska.gov</a>.The&nbsp;Veteran and Active Duty Supportive designation was launched in 2019 and recognizes postsecondary institutions that meet certain criteria such as having personnel dedicated to working with military and veteran students, giving college credit for certain types of military training, and offering military leave-of-absence, among other things.&nbsp;Information on the&nbsp;designation, including currently designated postsecondary institutions and how to apply for the designation, can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/postsecondary" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov/postsecondary</a>.NDVA’s mission is to honor Nebraska veterans and their families by providing excellent service, assistance, and care. This includes providing services to help veterans identify and access federal and state benefits. These benefits include disability compensation, pensions, and healthcare available through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, assistance through the Nebraska Veterans Aid fund, tuition waivers, and other state services. To learn more about NDVA’s veteran services or Nebraska state benefits, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://veterans.nebraska.gov/" target="_blank">veterans.nebraska.gov</a>.

NDVA Accepting Applications for DPAA Grant Assistance Program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday she would call a vote next week on ousting House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, forcing her colleagues to choose sides in a difficult showdown after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-mike-johnson-marjorie-taylor-greene-motion-to-vacate-552169f3e831ab8fb3baacfdf76c2d82">Democratic leaders announced</a>&nbsp;they would provide the votes to save the Republican speaker's job.

Speaking outside the Capitol, Greene ranted against Republican Party leaders at the highest levels and pushed back against their public entreaties, including from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-johnson-maralago-congress-c6eaace204882df054795cf70a5fe60a">Donald Trump</a>, to avoid another messy political fight so close to the November election. With her was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of the few lawmakers who have joined her effort.

“We need leaders in the House of Representatives that are going to get this done,” said Greene, R-Ga., holding up a red “MAGA” hat from Trump's “Make America Great Again” campaign movement.

“Mike Johnson is not capable of that job,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714577209426.png" alt="Image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/marjorie-taylor-greene">Marjorie Taylor Greene</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday she would call a vote next week on ousting House Speaker&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mike-johnson/">Mike Johnson</a>, forcing her colleagues to choose sides in a difficult showdown after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/speaker-mike-johnson-marjorie-taylor-greene-motion-to-vacate-552169f3e831ab8fb3baacfdf76c2d82">Democratic leaders announced</a>&nbsp;they would provide the votes to save the Republican speaker's job.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMTG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMTG</a> ): &quot;I think the American people need to see a recorded vote...So next week, I am going to be calling this motion to vacate. Absolutely calling it.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/P4Xnno13gV">pic.twitter.com/P4Xnno13gV</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1785687879445791060?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 1, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Speaking outside the Capitol, Greene ranted against Republican Party leaders at the highest levels and pushed back against their public entreaties, including from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-speaker-johnson-maralago-congress-c6eaace204882df054795cf70a5fe60a">Donald Trump</a>, to avoid another messy political fight so close to the November election. With her was Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., one of the few lawmakers who have joined her effort.“We need leaders in the House of Representatives that are going to get this done,” said Greene, R-Ga., holding up a red “MAGA” hat from Trump's “Make America Great Again” campaign movement.“Mike Johnson is not capable of that job,” she said.In pressing ahead next week, she said that "every member of Congress needs to take that vote."The standoff with Greene, one of Trump's most enthusiastic supporters, risks throwing Republican control of the House into a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/house-ukraine-aid-speaker-ouster-c525efc953d532242d6d441c55724992">fresh round of chaos</a>&nbsp;as rank-and-file lawmakers will have to choose between ousting Johnson, R-La., as speaker or joining with Democrats to keep him on the job.Democrats see in Johnson a potential partner, a hard-line conservative who nevertheless is willing to lead his Republican Party away from the far-right voices obstructing the routine business of governing, including funding the government and, more recently,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-aid-israel-tiktok-congress-a8910452e623413bf1da1e491d1d94ba">supporting Ukraine</a>&nbsp;and other U.S. allies overseas.The Democratic leader, New York Rep.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nancy-pelosi-hakeem-jeffries-congress-government-and-politics-f898cc1a7c59c8f42f669b5f0f167385">Hakeem Jeffries</a>, and his team issued a joint statement this week saying it was time to “turn the page” on the GOP chaos, announcing that the Democrats would vote to table Greene’s motion to vacate the speaker’s office, essentially ensuring Johnson is not evicted from office.“Are you going to embrace Hakeem Jeffries?” said Massie, before a poster-photo of Jeffries handing Johnson the gavel when the Republican first became speaker last fall.Johnson's opponents are few, at this point, and less than the eight that it took to oust now-former Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., last fall in the first ever removal of sitting speaker from the powerful office that is second in the line of succession to the president. Just one other Republican, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, has Greene's joined the effort.Greene and Massie said they were giving their colleagues the weekend to weigh their options before calling for the vote on her motion to vacate next week. Or, they said, Johnson could simply resign.The turmoil has gripped a House already essentially at a standstill. Johnson has been unable to command his razor-thin majority to work together on party priorities and has been forced him into the arms of Democrats for the votes needed to approve most big bills — and now, to keep his job.