LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen held press conferences in North Omaha and South Omaha to announce historic state investments into both communities, totaling more than $234 million.

The investments were made through the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) Program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The NSORG Program was established through the Economic Recovery Act, enacted in 2022 (LB 1024) and amended in 2023 (LB 531). The program’s purpose is to respond to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to build resilient and innovative communities in Omaha.

“From urban neighborhoods to our most rural counties, the state is supporting entrepreneurship and the creation of great career opportunities for our graduates,” said Gov. Pillen. “Leaders in North and South Omaha are building thriving communities where the future is tremendously bright. Today’s grants provide an infusion of capital that will multiply the influence of local organizations as they propel Omaha forward.”

At each award announcement, DED Director K.C. Belitz congratulated grant recipients and thanked state senators and state teammates for their thoroughness in managing the NSORG program. This process included holding meetings to gather public input, offering live technical assistance workshops, reviewing proposals and applications, interviewing small business proprietors, conducting economic impact analyses, and hosting regular office hours at DED’s North and South Omaha field offices to assist constituents with questions about the NSORG Program.

Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices is among the North Omaha grant recipients. She joined Gov. Pillen, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and other grant awardees for today’s announcement at the Fort Omaha Campus of Metro Community College.&nbsp; She noted that funding would act as a catalyst for economic opportunity in the community.

“Our Forever North” project will anchor North End Teleservices in North Omaha with a new global headquarters, creating new careers and opportunities for North Omaha residents,” said Tapio. “We are excited that this mixed-use development takes a comprehensive community development approach by connecting childcare, retail, and multi-family housing opportunities to the 24th and Lake neighborhood.”

Addressing a crowd at the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha, grant recipient Cesar Garcia shared his gratitude for the support he received working with DED and the impact that will take place, because of the funding.&nbsp;

“This crucial allocation of funding will play a pivotal role in realizing several long-standing projects that have been in the pipeline for years,” said Garcia, executive director of Canopy South. “With these resources, we are empowered to address the pressing needs expressed by our community, fostering positive economic change and sustainable development in South Omaha.”

State senators Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell also joined Gov. Pillen at the announcement in South Omaha – highlighting the transformative potential of the NSORG awards in their districts. Both senators are members of the Legislature’s Economic Recovery Special Committee, which oversaw the initial solicitation of project proposals under the Economic Recovery Act.

“This funding and these projects are going to be transformational for North and South Omaha,” said Senator Vargas. “It’s been so rewarding working with my colleagues in the legislature and in the Ricketts and Pillen administrations to get this across the finish line over the past couple of years, and it shows that we can truly accomplish great things for our communities when we work together towards a common goal.”&nbsp;

“Today marks a groundbreaking moment as we unveil Nebraska's most significant economic partnership, a transformative force for both North and South Omaha. South Omaha was once known as the Magic City and this initiative will help bring that magic back. It embodies a profound commitment to enhance lives and revitalize these vital communities,” noted Senator McDonnell. “Our unprecedented support goes beyond merely celebrating the past glory of the Magic City. It's about building a resilient foundation for future generations, ensuring that the American dream flourishes in every corner of North and South Omaha, enabling all residents to live, thrive, and cherish their share of this dream."

President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber Heath Mello also shared his appreciation for the determination and dedication that preceded today’s announcements.

"On behalf of the Greater Omaha Chamber, we cannot thank Governor Pillen, state senators Terrell McKinney, Justin Wayne, Mike McDonnell, and Tony Vargas and the Nebraska Legislature enough for their leadership in making historic economic recovery investments in North and South Omaha,” said Mello. “This unprecedented level of support heralds a new era of growth and collaboration, lighting the path towards a more vibrant and prosperous future for North and South Omaha.”

North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program – Awards and Impact

Grants through the NSORG Program are supporting 53 projects across six funding categories:

Additionally, DED has offered grants of at least $50,000 each to 77 small businesses through a seventh funding category (Small Business Support) within the NSORG Program. These grants, representing over $46 million in immediate impact, are benefiting small businesses in qualified census tracts and economic redevelopment areas in North and South Omaha.

DED anticipates that the NSORG Program awards, through their combined impact, will help create over 9,250 jobs – an estimated 4,662 permanent jobs and 4,607 temporary jobs – in North and South Omaha over the next five years.

For more information about the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program, visit DED’s website at:&nbsp;<a href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/" target="_blank">https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/</a>.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen held press conferences in North Omaha and South Omaha to announce historic state investments into both communities, totaling more than $234 million.The investments were made through the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant (NSORG) Program, administered by the Nebraska Department of Economic Development (DED). The NSORG Program was established through the Economic Recovery Act, enacted in 2022 (LB 1024) and amended in 2023 (LB 531). The program’s purpose is to respond to the negative impact of the coronavirus pandemic and to build resilient and innovative communities in Omaha.“From urban neighborhoods to our most rural counties, the state is supporting entrepreneurship and the creation of great career opportunities for our graduates,” said Gov. Pillen. “Leaders in North and South Omaha are building thriving communities where the future is tremendously bright. Today’s grants provide an infusion of capital that will multiply the influence of local organizations as they propel Omaha forward.”At each award announcement, DED Director K.C. Belitz congratulated grant recipients and thanked state senators and state teammates for their thoroughness in managing the NSORG program. This process included holding meetings to gather public input, offering live technical assistance workshops, reviewing proposals and applications, interviewing small business proprietors, conducting economic impact analyses, and hosting regular office hours at DED’s North and South Omaha field offices to assist constituents with questions about the NSORG Program.Carmen Tapio, president and CEO of North End Teleservices is among the North Omaha grant recipients. She joined Gov. Pillen, Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert and other grant awardees for today’s announcement at the Fort Omaha Campus of Metro Community College.&nbsp; She noted that funding would act as a catalyst for economic opportunity in the community.“Our Forever North” project will anchor North End Teleservices in North Omaha with a new global headquarters, creating new careers and opportunities for North Omaha residents,” said Tapio. “We are excited that this mixed-use development takes a comprehensive community development approach by connecting childcare, retail, and multi-family housing opportunities to the 24th and Lake neighborhood.”Addressing a crowd at the Livestock Exchange Building in South Omaha, grant recipient Cesar Garcia shared his gratitude for the support he received working with DED and the impact that will take place, because of the funding.&nbsp;“This crucial allocation of funding will play a pivotal role in realizing several long-standing projects that have been in the pipeline for years,” said Garcia, executive director of Canopy South. “With these resources, we are empowered to address the pressing needs expressed by our community, fostering positive economic change and sustainable development in South Omaha.”State senators Tony Vargas and Mike McDonnell also joined Gov. Pillen at the announcement in South Omaha – highlighting the transformative potential of the NSORG awards in their districts. Both senators are members of the Legislature’s Economic Recovery Special Committee, which oversaw the initial solicitation of project proposals under the Economic Recovery Act.“This funding and these projects are going to be transformational for North and South Omaha,” said Senator Vargas. “It’s been so rewarding working with my colleagues in the legislature and in the Ricketts and Pillen administrations to get this across the finish line over the past couple of years, and it shows that we can truly accomplish great things for our communities when we work together towards a common goal.”&nbsp;“Today marks a groundbreaking moment as we unveil Nebraska's most significant economic partnership, a transformative force for both North and South Omaha. South Omaha was once known as the Magic City and this initiative will help bring that magic back. It embodies a profound commitment to enhance lives and revitalize these vital communities,” noted Senator McDonnell. “Our unprecedented support goes beyond merely celebrating the past glory of the Magic City. It's about building a resilient foundation for future generations, ensuring that the American dream flourishes in every corner of North and South Omaha, enabling all residents to live, thrive, and cherish their share of this dream."President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber Heath Mello also shared his appreciation for the determination and dedication that preceded today’s announcements."On behalf of the Greater Omaha Chamber, we cannot thank Governor Pillen, state senators Terrell McKinney, Justin Wayne, Mike McDonnell, and Tony Vargas and the Nebraska Legislature enough for their leadership in making historic economic recovery investments in North and South Omaha,” said Mello. “This unprecedented level of support heralds a new era of growth and collaboration, lighting the path towards a more vibrant and prosperous future for North and South Omaha.”North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program – Awards and ImpactGrants through the NSORG Program are supporting 53 projects across six funding categories:<ol>
 <li>Placemaking Infrastructure</li><li>Entrepreneurship &amp; Innovation</li><li>Youth, Talent &amp; Workforce Development</li><li>Sports &amp; Tourism</li><li>Arts, Culture, &amp; Social Assistance</li><li>Recovery Assistance Program for Immediate Distribution (RAPID)</li>
 </ol>Additionally, DED has offered grants of at least $50,000 each to 77 small businesses through a seventh funding category (Small Business Support) within the NSORG Program. These grants, representing over $46 million in immediate impact, are benefiting small businesses in qualified census tracts and economic redevelopment areas in North and South Omaha.DED anticipates that the NSORG Program awards, through their combined impact, will help create over 9,250 jobs – an estimated 4,662 permanent jobs and 4,607 temporary jobs – in North and South Omaha over the next five years.For more information about the North and South Omaha Recovery Grant Program, visit DED’s website at:&nbsp;<a href="https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/" target="_blank">https://opportunity.nebraska.gov/programs/recovery/nsorg/</a>.

Gov. Pillen, State Senators, and Local Leaders Celebrate Announcement of $234 Million of Economic Recovery Grants for North and South Omaha

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.

The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.

The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.

Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.

The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.

“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.

But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.

“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”

Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-american-service-members-killed-jordan-iran-5cb774fd835a558d840ae91263037489">An enemy drone</a>&nbsp;that killed three American troops and wounded dozens of others in Jordan may have been confused with an American drone returning to the U.S. installation, two U.S. officials said Monday.The officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity, said the preliminary accounts suggest the enemy drone that struck the installation known as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-jordan-drone-attack-iran-tower-22-israel-hamas-war-0265beed527e3009a966c0531c08838e">Tower 22</a>&nbsp;may have been mistaken for an American drone that was in the air at the same time.The officials said that as the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the base. As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone.Explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses on the installation came as the White House said Monday it’s not looking for war with Iran even as President Joe Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.“The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;faces a difficult balancing act as he looks to strike back against Tehran in a forceful way without allowing the Gaza conflict to further metastasize. The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, spurring the war in Gaza. But it’s the first in which American service members have been killed.National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated a day after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Biden</a>&nbsp;promised to “hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing” that the U.S. administration wasn’t seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.But Kirby also made clear that the American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on the U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The groups — including Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah — say the attacks are in response to Israel’s ongoing to military operations in Gaza.“We are not looking for a war with Iran,” Kirby told NBC’s “Today” show. ”We are not looking to escalate the conflict in the region. … Obviously, these attacks keep coming. We’ll keep looking at the options. I can’t speak for the supreme leader or what he wants or he doesn’t want. I can tell you what we want. What we want is a stable, secure, prosperous Middle East, and we want these attacks to stop.”Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

How U.S. failed to stop drone attack that killed, injured American troops

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is looking to follow in the footsteps of Kentucky in implementing a program that covers the costs of child care for child care workers. The idea, presented Friday by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, is that the benefit will draw more workers into the child care industry, which is experiencing dire shortages across the county.

Nebraska’s bill would cover 100% of the child care costs for child care professionals with young kids if they work for a licensed child care facility for at least 20 hours a week, regardless of their household income.

The idea is showing success in Kentucky, which passed its subsidy program in 2022, Fredrickson said. By November 2023, Kentucky had seen an additional 3,200 child care providers join the state’s ranks providing care for 5,700 more children than the year before, according to child advocate group Kentucky Youth Advocates.

If Nebraska were to see a proportional impact, its bill would add 2,175 new child care workers caring for an additional 3,535 children, Fredrickson said.

Nebraska is among the latest states that are seeking or have enacted similar legislation. That includes Iowa, which passed a similar bill last year. Colorado and Indiana also have introduced child care subsidy bills for providers.

“That makes it even more urgent that we create this program now,” Fredrickson said. “Nebraska has an opportunity to become a leader in our nation in solving child care gaps, and subsequently, our workforce concerns."

Like other states, Nebraska's child care industry has dwindled in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 91% of Nebraska's 93 counties don't have enough child care spots to meet demand, and at least 10 counties have no child care provider at all, according to a recent survey commissioned by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids. An estimated 28% of all Nebraska children live in so-called child care deserts, defined as U.S. Census tracts— about 4,000 people, on average — where there are either no child care providers or three times as many children as child care spots available.

“In that survey, 34% of parents with children age 5 and younger reported refusing a work opportunity because it would increase their child care expenses,” said Anahi Salazar, policy coordinator with Voices for Children.

Salazar, who attended Friday's hearing with her 6-month-old son, said she would have been among those squeezed out of the workforce if her employer didn't allow her to bring her baby to work. That's because the child care she had arranged for him before his birth fell through, and the only other child care providers within driving distance had nearly one-year waiting periods for an open spot.

“If I had still been a teacher, I would have been fired or would have had to resign,” Salazar said.

The Nebraska program, as proposed, is estimated to cost $21 million. Fredrickson said that cost is dwarfed by the estimated $498 million lost to Nebraska families annually from missed work opportunities due to lack of child care access.

“It's not possible to address child care issues in this state without significant investment,” Fredrickson said.

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska is looking to follow in the footsteps of Kentucky in implementing a program that covers the costs of child care for child care workers. The idea, presented Friday by Omaha Sen. John Fredrickson to the Legislature's Health and Human Services Committee, is that the benefit will draw more workers into the child care industry, which is experiencing dire shortages across the county.Nebraska’s bill would cover 100% of the child care costs for child care professionals with young kids if they work for a licensed child care facility for at least 20 hours a week, regardless of their household income.The idea is showing success in Kentucky, which passed its subsidy program in 2022, Fredrickson said. By November 2023, Kentucky had seen an additional 3,200 child care providers join the state’s ranks providing care for 5,700 more children than the year before, according to child advocate group Kentucky Youth Advocates.If Nebraska were to see a proportional impact, its bill would add 2,175 new child care workers caring for an additional 3,535 children, Fredrickson said.Nebraska is among the latest states that are seeking or have enacted similar legislation. That includes Iowa, which passed a similar bill last year. Colorado and Indiana also have introduced child care subsidy bills for providers.“That makes it even more urgent that we create this program now,” Fredrickson said. “Nebraska has an opportunity to become a leader in our nation in solving child care gaps, and subsequently, our workforce concerns."Like other states, Nebraska's child care industry has dwindled in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 91% of Nebraska's 93 counties don't have enough child care spots to meet demand, and at least 10 counties have no child care provider at all, according to a recent survey commissioned by Nebraska Extension and We Care for Kids. An estimated 28% of all Nebraska children live in so-called child care deserts, defined as U.S. Census tracts— about 4,000 people, on average — where there are either no child care providers or three times as many children as child care spots available.“In that survey, 34% of parents with children age 5 and younger reported refusing a work opportunity because it would increase their child care expenses,” said Anahi Salazar, policy coordinator with Voices for Children.Salazar, who attended Friday's hearing with her 6-month-old son, said she would have been among those squeezed out of the workforce if her employer didn't allow her to bring her baby to work. That's because the child care she had arranged for him before his birth fell through, and the only other child care providers within driving distance had nearly one-year waiting periods for an open spot.“If I had still been a teacher, I would have been fired or would have had to resign,” Salazar said.The Nebraska program, as proposed, is estimated to cost $21 million. Fredrickson said that cost is dwarfed by the estimated $498 million lost to Nebraska families annually from missed work opportunities due to lack of child care access.“It's not possible to address child care issues in this state without significant investment,” Fredrickson said.

Covering child care costs for daycare workers could fix Nebraska's provider shortage, senator says

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.

The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.

The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.

Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.

After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.

However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.

Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695327062140.png" alt="File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo&nbsp;&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oct. 2023 visit to Washington- White House photo</figcaption>
 </figure>KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Employees from a Ukrainian arms firm conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million earmarked to buy 100,000 mortar shells for the war with Russia, Ukraine's security service reported.The SBU said late Saturday that five people have been charged, with one person detained while trying to cross the Ukrainian border. If found guilty, they face up to 12 years in prison.The investigation comes as Kyiv attempts to clamp down on corruption in a bid to speed up its membership in the European Union and NATO. Officials from both blocs have demanded widespread anti-graft reforms before Kyiv can join them.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was elected on an anti-corruption platform in 2019, long before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both the president and his aides have portrayed the recent firings of top officials, notably that of Ivan Bakanov, former head of the State Security Service, in July 2022, as proof of their efforts to crack down on graft.Security officials say that the current investigation dates back to August 2022, when officials signed a contract for artillery shells worth 1.5 billion hryvnias ($39.6 million) with arms firm Lviv Arsenal.After receiving payment, company employees were supposed to transfer the funds to a business registered abroad, which would then deliver the ammunition to Ukraine.However, the goods were never delivered and the money was instead sent to various accounts in Ukraine and the Balkans, investigators said.Ukraine’s prosecutor general says that the funds have since been seized and will be returned to the country's defense budget.

Ukraine: Officials stole $40 million meant to buy arms for the war

Party endorses Dan Frei in Bacon race, John Weaver in Ricketts race and John Walz in Smith race

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>

LINCOLN — For the first time in their elected runs, none of Nebraska’s five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation received an endorsement from the Nebraska Republican Party.

And none of them sought the state party’s endorsements, which were made Saturday.

Instead, the party’s State Central Committee endorsed Republican challengers to three GOP incumbents: former Air Force Lt. Col. John Glen Weaver, who is running against U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts; Omaha businessman Dan Frei, running against 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon; and Hastings engineer John Walz, running against 3rd District Rep. Adrian Smith.&nbsp;

The central committee did not endorse candidates in the other two top federal races involving Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Mike Flood, who haven’t drawn a Republican challenger.&nbsp;

Nebraska GOP chairman Eric Underwood had no immediate comment on the endorsements or the party’s process. In a text message, he said his team needed time to finish its press release.&nbsp;

One Republican who attended Saturday’s meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”

Others&nbsp;on the committee&nbsp;who opposed the congressional incumbents have said delegation members sometimes act as if they lead the party, not vice versa.

Tension has existed between the state party and its top elected officials since Nebraska GOP leadership changed hands in the summer of 2022, from party workers loyal to Ricketts to populists loyal to former President Donald Trump and some former insiders who wanted to diminish Ricketts’ influence over the party.

One of the chief complaints&nbsp;from people supporting the leadership change&nbsp;was that the party under Ricketts took sides in some high-profile GOP vs. GOP primaries.

Internal vote counts, gathered from multiple sources, showed that Weaver secured the most support in Saturday’s elections, with 103 of 144 possible votes. Frei received 100 votes and Walz 96. Tallies were cobbled together because the meeting was closed to the press.

Weaver said it felt great to have active Republicans from across the state back his bid. He said he was the only Senate candidate who asked for the endorsement. In 2022, he lost the 1st District GOP primary to Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., earning 7% of the vote.

Weaver told the central committee he would support the House Freedom Caucus&nbsp;as a Senate affiliate&nbsp;if elected.&nbsp;

“People here are passionate about saving our country,” Weaver said of the central committee’s meeting in Bellevue. “It’s not like it’s a bunch of crazy people who got together in a room.”

Ricketts, reached at the Nebraska Walk for Life in Lincoln, which took place during the GOP meeting Saturday, declined to discuss why he chose not to seek the party’s endorsement.

“No, I’d rather not talk about that,” he said.

His campaign had no immediate comment Saturday evening about Weaver’s endorsement.

These days, state party endorsements carry little weight beyond signaling to the public about a candidate’s philosophical bent. However, political observers said the absence of the party’s endorsement could have a cost.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Not many political observers expect the endorsed candidates to see a major infusion of cash, because the state GOP’s fundraising has fallen off since the transition to new leadership. The biggest bump could be in energy from some activist Republicans.

Additionally, state parties have access to a steeply discounted postage rate often used by campaigns to send direct mail. Some Republicans told the Examiner that candidates in GOP primaries with an endorsed opponent might not get access to the discount.

Frei, who has said he would join the Freedom Caucus if elected, nearly upset Rep. Lee Terry in the 2014 GOP primary, losing by 6 percentage points. He has embraced Trump and positioned his candidacy as an effort to excite the populist wing of the party.

He said he was pleased with the party’s endorsement. In a tweet Saturday, he thanked the committee and said he was “honored to receive your trust.” He said he looked forward to helping secure the border and boosting fiscal responsibility.

Bacon, who represents the state’s most politically balanced congressional district, expressed disappointment about Frei’s endorsement.

“Most state parties do not go against incumbents,” he said in a statement after the vote. He said if Frei won the primary, he would struggle to compete in a general election against Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. Bacon said Frei might only earn 42%-43% of the vote in November.

“I know that my record of results will prevail this May and November,” Bacon said. “I am a common-sense conservative who is able to reach across the aisle and find areas of consensus. … I’ve been the conservative on key issues.”

He said he supports a strong national defense and a balanced budget amendment. He said he opposes much of the spending in federal budgets proposed by Democrats, including the most recent pandemic aid that he said made inflation worse.

Vargas’ campaign, in a statement, said Bacon is paying the price for saying one thing in Omaha and another in Washington, D.C.

Walz, who worked in the biofuels industry, said he was grateful for the endorsement. He said it would help present “all options to the electorate.” He has said he is running as a “MAGA” or Trump Republican.

Smith’s campaign had no immediate comment about the endorsement. During a brief interview at the Walk for Life before the vote, Smith acknowledged he had not sought the party’s endorsement.

On Sunday, his campaign issued a press release touting his endorsements from 54 elected Nebraska Republicans.

Party leaders said in internal emails reviewed by the Examiner that the state GOP’s constitution requires all candidates, including incumbents, to ask for the party’s endorsement.&nbsp;

For years, high-level Nebraska GOP incumbents have received a phone call or message from the state party asking if they would like to be endorsed. If the answer was yes, they typically received it, said people familiar with the process.&nbsp;

This year, state GOP leaders created a new endorsement process for incumbents and non-incumbents. It required candidates to fill out questionnaires, which some privately mocked.

Among the questions incumbents were reported asked: Have you reviewed the Nebraska State Constitution Chapter 32 and your elected position’s job description? What tenets of the NEGOP platform relate specifically to your elected office and why?

Among the questions it asked first-time candidates: Are you an introvert or extrovert? What are your hobbies? What does the word integrity mean to you?&nbsp;

One candidate compared the questions to a college seminar. Another said it showed no respect for candidates’ time. A consultant with experience in Nebraska races said they expected a question about someone’s “favorite flavor of ice cream.” All of those interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.

A few defended the new endorsement process, saying it expanded the number of rank-and-file Republicans involved in decision-making instead of limiting it to a handful of kingmakers.

None of the congressional incumbents filled out the questionnaires, the Examiner confirmed.&nbsp;

Fischer said before the Walk for Life that the state GOP previously endorsed Republican incumbents in good standing. She said Nebraskans know who she is — and that she’s conservative.&nbsp;

Bacon had expected backlash from the party because he has sometimes disagreed with Trump. He said on Tuesday that while he preferred other GOP candidates running this year, he would support the GOP nominee for president this fall, including Trump, against President Joe Biden.&nbsp;

Flood, whose Democratic opponent in the 1st District, State Sen. Carol Blood, kicked off her campaign Saturday, said at the Walk for Life that he has GOP bona fides.

“I’ve been active in the Republican Party since fourth grade,” Flood said. “I was attending fundraisers for (former Gov.) Kay Orr and (former U.S. Sen.) Dave Karnes. I’m a conservative that has a record to prove it and now 14 years of political experience, so I’m going to run on that.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706540234112.png" alt="U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., speaks about the importance of protecting the unborn to a Walk for Life crowd in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., speaks about the importance of protecting the unborn to a Walk for Life crowd in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Party endorses Dan Frei in Bacon race, John Weaver in Ricketts race and John Walz in Smith race</h2><a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/aaron-sanderford/">AARON SANDERFORD</a>LINCOLN — For the first time in their elected runs, none of Nebraska’s five-member, all-GOP congressional delegation received an endorsement from the Nebraska Republican Party.And none of them sought the state party’s endorsements, which were made Saturday.Instead, the party’s State Central Committee endorsed Republican challengers to three GOP incumbents: former Air Force Lt. Col. John Glen Weaver, who is running against U.S. Sen. Pete Ricketts; Omaha businessman Dan Frei, running against 2nd District Rep. Don Bacon; and Hastings engineer John Walz, running against 3rd District Rep. Adrian Smith.&nbsp;The central committee did not endorse candidates in the other two top federal races involving Sen. Deb Fischer and Rep. Mike Flood, who haven’t drawn a Republican challenger.&nbsp;Nebraska GOP chairman Eric Underwood had no immediate comment on the endorsements or the party’s process. In a text message, he said his team needed time to finish its press release.&nbsp;One Republican who attended Saturday’s meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “You can’t win if you don’t play.”Others&nbsp;on the committee&nbsp;who opposed the congressional incumbents have said delegation members sometimes act as if they lead the party, not vice versa.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706540178475.png" alt="All three members of Nebraska’s U.S. House delegation pose before the Walk for Life rally in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. From left are Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Mike Flood, all Republicans. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>All three members of Nebraska’s U.S. House delegation pose before the Walk for Life rally in Lincoln on Jan. 27, 2024. From left are Rep. Adrian Smith, Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. Mike Flood, all Republicans. (Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Party tension with delegation</h2>Tension has existed between the state party and its top elected officials since Nebraska GOP leadership changed hands in the summer of 2022, from party workers loyal to Ricketts to populists loyal to former President Donald Trump and some former insiders who wanted to diminish Ricketts’ influence over the party.One of the chief complaints&nbsp;from people supporting the leadership change&nbsp;was that the party under Ricketts took sides in some high-profile GOP vs. GOP primaries.Internal vote counts, gathered from multiple sources, showed that Weaver secured the most support in Saturday’s elections, with 103 of 144 possible votes. Frei received 100 votes and Walz 96. Tallies were cobbled together because the meeting was closed to the press.Weaver said it felt great to have active Republicans from across the state back his bid. He said he was the only Senate candidate who asked for the endorsement. In 2022, he lost the 1st District GOP primary to Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., earning 7% of the vote.Weaver told the central committee he would support the House Freedom Caucus&nbsp;as a Senate affiliate&nbsp;if elected.&nbsp;“People here are passionate about saving our country,” Weaver said of the central committee’s meeting in Bellevue. “It’s not like it’s a bunch of crazy people who got together in a room.”Ricketts, reached at the Nebraska Walk for Life in Lincoln, which took place during the GOP meeting Saturday, declined to discuss why he chose not to seek the party’s endorsement.“No, I’d rather not talk about that,” he said.His campaign had no immediate comment Saturday evening about Weaver’s endorsement.<h2>State party endorsements</h2>These days, state party endorsements carry little weight beyond signaling to the public about a candidate’s philosophical bent. However, political observers said the absence of the party’s endorsement could have a cost.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not many political observers expect the endorsed candidates to see a major infusion of cash, because the state GOP’s fundraising has fallen off since the transition to new leadership. The biggest bump could be in energy from some activist Republicans.Additionally, state parties have access to a steeply discounted postage rate often used by campaigns to send direct mail. Some Republicans told the Examiner that candidates in GOP primaries with an endorsed opponent might not get access to the discount.Frei, who has said he would join the Freedom Caucus if elected, nearly upset Rep. Lee Terry in the 2014 GOP primary, losing by 6 percentage points. He has embraced Trump and positioned his candidacy as an effort to excite the populist wing of the party.He said he was pleased with the party’s endorsement. In a tweet Saturday, he thanked the committee and said he was “honored to receive your trust.” He said he looked forward to helping secure the border and boosting fiscal responsibility.“It was a really good day,” he said.<h2>Bacon responds</h2>Bacon, who represents the state’s most politically balanced congressional district, expressed disappointment about Frei’s endorsement.“Most state parties do not go against incumbents,” he said in a statement after the vote. He said if Frei won the primary, he would struggle to compete in a general election against Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha. Bacon said Frei might only earn 42%-43% of the vote in November.“I know that my record of results will prevail this May and November,” Bacon said. “I am a common-sense conservative who is able to reach across the aisle and find areas of consensus. … I’ve been the conservative on key issues.”He said he supports a strong national defense and a balanced budget amendment. He said he opposes much of the spending in federal budgets proposed by Democrats, including the most recent pandemic aid that he said made inflation worse.Vargas’ campaign, in a statement, said Bacon is paying the price for saying one thing in Omaha and another in Washington, D.C.Walz, who worked in the biofuels industry, said he was grateful for the endorsement. He said it would help present “all options to the electorate.” He has said he is running as a “MAGA” or Trump Republican.Smith’s campaign had no immediate comment about the endorsement. During a brief interview at the Walk for Life before the vote, Smith acknowledged he had not sought the party’s endorsement.On Sunday, his campaign issued a press release touting his endorsements from 54 elected Nebraska Republicans.<h2>Process changed</h2>Party leaders said in internal emails reviewed by the Examiner that the state GOP’s constitution requires all candidates, including incumbents, to ask for the party’s endorsement.&nbsp;For years, high-level Nebraska GOP incumbents have received a phone call or message from the state party asking if they would like to be endorsed. If the answer was yes, they typically received it, said people familiar with the process.&nbsp;This year, state GOP leaders created a new endorsement process for incumbents and non-incumbents. It required candidates to fill out questionnaires, which some privately mocked.Among the questions incumbents were reported asked: Have you reviewed the Nebraska State Constitution Chapter 32 and your elected position’s job description? What tenets of the NEGOP platform relate specifically to your elected office and why?Among the questions it asked first-time candidates: Are you an introvert or extrovert? What are your hobbies? What does the word integrity mean to you?&nbsp;One candidate compared the questions to a college seminar. Another said it showed no respect for candidates’ time. A consultant with experience in Nebraska races said they expected a question about someone’s “favorite flavor of ice cream.” All of those interviewed spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal.A few defended the new endorsement process, saying it expanded the number of rank-and-file Republicans involved in decision-making instead of limiting it to a handful of kingmakers.<h2>Delegation members skipped questionnaire</h2>None of the congressional incumbents filled out the questionnaires, the Examiner confirmed.&nbsp;Fischer said before the Walk for Life that the state GOP previously endorsed Republican incumbents in good standing. She said Nebraskans know who she is — and that she’s conservative.&nbsp;“I’ve got a record,” she said.Bacon had expected backlash from the party because he has sometimes disagreed with Trump. He said on Tuesday that while he preferred other GOP candidates running this year, he would support the GOP nominee for president this fall, including Trump, against President Joe Biden.&nbsp;Flood, whose Democratic opponent in the 1st District, State Sen. Carol Blood, kicked off her campaign Saturday, said at the Walk for Life that he has GOP bona fides.“I’ve been active in the Republican Party since fourth grade,” Flood said. “I was attending fundraisers for (former Gov.) Kay Orr and (former U.S. Sen.) Dave Karnes. I’m a conservative that has a record to prove it and now 14 years of political experience, so I’m going to run on that.”

Nebraska GOP fight with delegation spills over into its endorsements

JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.

Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.

A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.

The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1703418619283.png" alt="Photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>Photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-houthis-red-sea-jake-sullivan-yemen-ff507d06a7a44d6f3644f128e7766b3d">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;said they attacked a U.S. Navy mobile base at sea Monday without offering evidence, something immediately rejected by an American defense official.Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the group fired a missile at the USS Lewis B. Puller in the Gulf of Aden. The Puller, which serves as a floating landing base, had been earlier stationed in the Arabian Sea as part of American efforts to curtail Houthi attacks on commercial shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.Houthi attacks will continue “until the aggression is stopped, and the siege is lifted on the people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip,” Saree said in the statement.A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said there had been no reported attack on the Puller. However, the Houthis have previously launched missiles that did not reach their intended target, instead crashing onto the land or sea.The Puller served as a mobile base for the U.S. Navy SEALs who conducted a Jan. 11 operation&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">seizing Iranian-made ballistic missile and cruise missile</a>&nbsp;components believed to be bound for Yemen. Two SEALs went missing in the operation and are presumed to have died.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas</a>. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.The Houthis hit a commercial vessel with a missile on Friday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-red-sea-israel-hamas-war-attacks-f36fc8911e069a5b4dbc4d9e67f31e50">sparking a fire that burned for hours</a>.

American officials reject new claim of rebel attack on US warship

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that the U.S. “shall respond” after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3658484/announcement-of-us-casualties-in-northeast-jordan-near-syria-border/">three American troops were killed</a>&nbsp;and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jordan">Jordan</a>&nbsp;near the Syrian border. Biden blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran-backed militias</a>&nbsp;for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.

Biden, who was traveling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church's banquet hall.

“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases," he said. After the moment of silence, Biden added, “and we shall respond.”

With an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">increasing risk of military escalation</a>&nbsp;in the region, U.S. officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.

Biden said in a written statement that the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said "we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”

Iran-backed fighters in east Syria began evacuating their posts, fearing U.S. airstrikes, according to Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet. He told The Associated Press that the areas are the strongholds of Mayadeen and Boukamal.

According to a U.S. official, the number of troops injured by the one-way attack drone rose to at least 34. Another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public, said a large drone struck the base, which two other American officials identified as an installation in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces.

The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops. Austin said the troops were deployed there “to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS.” Three officials said the drone struck near the troops' sleeping quarters, which they said explained the high casualty count.

The U.S. military base at al-Tanf in Syria is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tower 22. The Jordanian installation provides a critical logistical hub for U.S. forces in Syria, including those at al-Tanf, which is near the intersection of the Iraq, Syria and Jordan borders.

Jordanian state television quoted Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, as insisting the attack happened across the border in Syria.

U.S. troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point. Some 3,000 American troops typically are stationed across Jordan, but the number at Tower 22 wasn’t immediately known and isn’t routinely disclosed.

Since the war in Gaza began Oct. 7, Iranian-backed militias have struck American military installations in Iraq more than 60 times and in Syria more than 90 times, with a mix of drones, rockets, mortars and ballistic missiles. The attack Sunday was the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. Scores of U.S. personnel have been wounded, including some with traumatic brain injuries, during the attacks.

The militias have said that their strikes are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza and have also said they aim to push U.S. forces out of the region.

The U.S. in recent months has struck targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to respond to attacks on American forces in the region and to deter Iran-backed Houthi rebels from continuing to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

“I am confident the Biden Administration will respond in a deliberate and proportional manner,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Republicans in Congress said the administration's approach had failed to deter America's adversaries in the region.

“We need a major reset of our Middle East policy to protect our national security interests,” said Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., went further, urging the administration “to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression. The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force.”

Biden, who was in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, was briefed in the morning by Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. In the afternoon, he met virtually with Vice President Kamala Harris and his national security team for an update.

The president, in the written statement, called it a “despicable and wholly unjust attack” and said the service members were “risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease.”

Syria is still in the midst of a civil war and long has been a launch pad for Iranian-backed forces there, including the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Iraq has multiple Iranian-backed Shiite militias operating there as well.

Jordan, a staunch Western ally and a crucial power in Jerusalem for its oversight of holy sites there, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-jordan-sweida-captagon-smuggling-strike-24423e9b3b1038e5bced4a446dd3aee6">suspected of launching airstrikes in Syria</a>&nbsp;to disrupt drug smugglers, including one that killed nine people earlier this month.

An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq earlier claimed launching explosive drone attacks targeting three areas in Syria, as well as one inside of “occupied Palestine.” The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.

Three officials with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with journalists, said the drone attack against the base in Jordan was launched by one of the Iraqi groups. No faction has yet officially claimed responsibility.

Officials said the U.S. military is not tracking any other attacks on its forces Sunday in the region.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706478858769.png" alt="President Biden, who is on the campaign trail in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence to honor three U.S. Service members who died in the attack on Sunday.-image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>President Biden, who is on the campaign trail in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence to honor three U.S. Service members who died in the attack on Sunday.-image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;said Sunday that the U.S. “shall respond” after&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3658484/announcement-of-us-casualties-in-northeast-jordan-near-syria-border/">three American troops were killed</a>&nbsp;and dozens more were injured in an overnight drone strike in northeast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jordan">Jordan</a>&nbsp;near the Syrian border. Biden blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran-backed militias</a>&nbsp;for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by such groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Last night, three U.S. service members were killed, and many wounded, during an unmanned aerial drone attack on our forces stationed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border. Jill and I join the families and friends of our fallen in grieving the loss of these warriors in this…&mdash; President Biden (@POTUS) <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1751667937792967039?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My prayers are with the families of the fallen soldiers and those injured in the attack on our service members stationed in Jordan last night. May God bless our troops. <a href="https://t.co/ARrMik8odB">https://t.co/ARrMik8odB</a>&mdash; Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) <a href="https://twitter.com/RogerMarshallMD/status/1751705948563890254?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">3 American servicemembers were killed and more than 25 injured during a drone strike in Jordan last night. The Iran-backed terrorists responsible for this attack on US troops must be held accountable. Join me in praying for the families, friends, and loved ones of these…&mdash; Rep. Jake LaTurner (@RepLaTurner) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepLaTurner/status/1751699443911446853?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We are saddened by the loss of three American heroes in Jordan last night, and we are praying for their families and for the 25 other service members who have been injured. America must send a crystal clear message across the globe that attacks on our troops will not be…&mdash; Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerJohnson/status/1751664975305654734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Will Pres Biden finally take decisive action against Iran???&mdash; Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChuckGrassley/status/1751668647272104018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Hit Iran now. Hit them hard.&mdash; Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) <a href="https://twitter.com/LindseyGrahamSC/status/1751657471280652397?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Doug and I mourn the loss of the three U.S. service members killed in northeast Jordan near the Syria border in a despicable attack by Iran-backed militant groups. Our prayers are with their loved ones and those injured. These fallen patriots served bravely and selflessly,…&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1751656481668129098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Today’s news of 3 service-members killed in an attack on an American base in Jordan is deeply disheartening. While I urge everyone to join me in praying for the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, I also call on the Biden administration to respond swiftly and…&mdash; Mark Alford (@RepMarkAlford) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMarkAlford/status/1751659782723788851?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">“You probe with bayonets: if you find mush, you push. If you find steel, you withdraw” Vladimir Ilich Lenin <a href="https://t.co/HwcjqXabmP">https://t.co/HwcjqXabmP</a>&mdash; Senator John Cornyn (@JohnCornyn) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnCornyn/status/1751710251055997275?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">My statement following the Iran-backed attacks in Jordan that killed three U.S. service members and injured 25: <a href="https://t.co/L8ckks5ch4">pic.twitter.com/L8ckks5ch4</a>&mdash; Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenTomCotton/status/1751658979938148565?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">After 158 attacks on our forces over the past 100 days it was only a matter of time until these Iranian-backed units found their target. The US has the capability and inherent right to eliminate the sources of these continued attacks. The fact that the White House has failed to… <a href="https://t.co/JUDFZmXGrq">https://t.co/JUDFZmXGrq</a>&mdash; Rep. Don Bacon 🇺🇸 (@RepDonBacon) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepDonBacon/status/1751700724004560966?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">.<a href="https://twitter.com/LeaderMcConnell?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LeaderMcConnell</a> Statement On Iran-Backed Attack That Killed 3 American Servicemembers: <a href="https://t.co/kFVO9Aej61">https://t.co/kFVO9Aej61</a>&mdash; Senator McConnell&#39;s Press Office (@McConnellPress) <a href="https://twitter.com/McConnellPress/status/1751691676207243772?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Biden, who was traveling in South Carolina, asked for a moment of silence during an appearance at a Baptist church's banquet hall.“We had a tough day last night in the Middle East. We lost three brave souls in an attack on one of our bases," he said. After the moment of silence, Biden added, “and we shall respond.”With an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">increasing risk of military escalation</a>&nbsp;in the region, U.S. officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.Biden said in a written statement that the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said "we will take all necessary actions to defend the United States, our troops, and our interests.”Iran-backed fighters in east Syria began evacuating their posts, fearing U.S. airstrikes, according to Omar Abu Layla, a Europe-based activist who heads the Deir Ezzor 24 media outlet. He told The Associated Press that the areas are the strongholds of Mayadeen and Boukamal.According to a U.S. official, the number of troops injured by the one-way attack drone rose to at least 34. Another official, who also spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public, said a large drone struck the base, which two other American officials identified as an installation in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces.The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops. Austin said the troops were deployed there “to work for the lasting defeat of ISIS.” Three officials said the drone struck near the troops' sleeping quarters, which they said explained the high casualty count.The U.S. military base at al-Tanf in Syria is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tower 22. The Jordanian installation provides a critical logistical hub for U.S. forces in Syria, including those at al-Tanf, which is near the intersection of the Iraq, Syria and Jordan borders.Jordanian state television quoted Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, as insisting the attack happened across the border in Syria.U.S. troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point. Some 3,000 American troops typically are stationed across Jordan, but the number at Tower 22 wasn’t immediately known and isn’t routinely disclosed.Since the war in Gaza began Oct. 7, Iranian-backed militias have struck American military installations in Iraq more than 60 times and in Syria more than 90 times, with a mix of drones, rockets, mortars and ballistic missiles. The attack Sunday was the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. Scores of U.S. personnel have been wounded, including some with traumatic brain injuries, during the attacks.The militias have said that their strikes are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israel in the war in Gaza and have also said they aim to push U.S. forces out of the region.The U.S. in recent months has struck targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to respond to attacks on American forces in the region and to deter Iran-backed Houthi rebels from continuing to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.“I am confident the Biden Administration will respond in a deliberate and proportional manner,” said Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee.Republicans in Congress said the administration's approach had failed to deter America's adversaries in the region.“We need a major reset of our Middle East policy to protect our national security interests,” said Republican Rep. Michael McCaul of Texas, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., went further, urging the administration “to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression. The only thing the Iranian regime understands is force.”Biden, who was in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, was briefed in the morning by Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. In the afternoon, he met virtually with Vice President Kamala Harris and his national security team for an update.The president, in the written statement, called it a “despicable and wholly unjust attack” and said the service members were “risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease.”Syria is still in the midst of a civil war and long has been a launch pad for Iranian-backed forces there, including the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Iraq has multiple Iranian-backed Shiite militias operating there as well.Jordan, a staunch Western ally and a crucial power in Jerusalem for its oversight of holy sites there, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-jordan-sweida-captagon-smuggling-strike-24423e9b3b1038e5bced4a446dd3aee6">suspected of launching airstrikes in Syria</a>&nbsp;to disrupt drug smugglers, including one that killed nine people earlier this month.An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq earlier claimed launching explosive drone attacks targeting three areas in Syria, as well as one inside of “occupied Palestine.” The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.Three officials with Iran-backed militias in Iraq, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter with journalists, said the drone attack against the base in Jordan was launched by one of the Iraqi groups. No faction has yet officially claimed responsibility.Officials said the U.S. military is not tracking any other attacks on its forces Sunday in the region.

Lawmakers respond after US troops killed, injured by Iran-backed militia 

Monica Bertagnolli, MD, the 17th&nbsp;director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) joins UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. CST on a live broadcast of “Rural Health Matters” on RFD-TV.

Dr. Bertagnolli is the latest headliner to appear with Dr. Gold on the weekly television broadcast, which delivers high-level yet accessible expertise on science, health, agriculture, the economy and more to RFD-TV’s national rural audience. “Rural Health Matters” is produced by RFD-TV in conjunction with UNMC and hosted by Dr. Gold and RFD-TV’s award-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/christina-loren-news-anchor-meteorologist" target="_blank">anchor and meteorologist Christina Loren</a>.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmTSmZOYN5Y7Ehfl5KXrvb1SLnMI-hcdr" target="_blank">Here is an archive of previous “Rural Health Matters” episodes</a>

Guests have included a mix of regional and national figures – officials from the NIH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high-ranking military, members of Congress and more – and UNMC’s own Nebraska stakeholders, extended med center family and faculty with national-level expertise.

Monday night’s guest, Dr. Bertagnolli, is the first surgeon and second woman to serve as NIH director. She oversees the work of the largest funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world and is former director of the National Cancer Institute. And she is a rural American herself, having grown up on a Wyoming cattle ranch.

Dr. Gold said UNMC is grateful to RFD-TV for having the generosity and foresight to create and air the show as a public service during the pandemic. But “Rural Health Matters” has since become so much more, addressing a myriad of issues that affect rural America.

A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_eeWacoms4" target="_blank">2022 episode</a>&nbsp;featuring since-retired director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, MD,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2023/07/06/episode-of-rural-health-matters-wins-telly-award/" target="_blank">earned a Silver honor</a>&nbsp;in the 44th&nbsp;annual Telly Awards.

“It is incredibly gratifying for our academic health science center to have a hand in bringing these experts to RFD-TV’s national rural audience and vice-versa,” the chancellor said.

As a result, UNMC increasingly is becoming a household name throughout rural America.

RFD-TV’s corporate headquarters are in Omaha, and broadcast operations in Nashville. It is available in 52 million homes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/find-us-on-tv" target="_blank">via cable or streaming</a>&nbsp;and “is the nation’s first 24-hour television network featuring programming focused on the agribusiness, equine and the rural lifestyles, along with traditional country music and entertainment,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/" target="_blank">its website</a>.

Viewers at home often take part in the show with live call-in questions. Call 877-731-6733 to ask Dr. Bertagnolli a question or take part in the show.

How to watch “Rural Health Matters”

“Rural Health Matters” is live Monday nights at 5 p.m. Central on RFD-TV or available for replay within a few days on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmTSmZOYN5Y7Ehfl5KXrvb1SLnMI-hcdr" target="_blank">UNMC’s YouTube channel</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/find-us-on-tv" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to find RFD-TV via your existing cable, satellite or streaming services. If unavailable, packages to watch live may be purchased at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.watchrfdtv.com/" target="_blank">watchrfdtv.com</a>.

About UNMC&nbsp;As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education,&nbsp;research&nbsp;and clinical care, but its impact -- rooted in a culture of collaboration,&nbsp;big ideas&nbsp;and public-private partnerships – goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and&nbsp;simulation and experiential learning technologies.&nbsp;

<a href="https://twitter.com/unmc" target="_blank">Twitter</a>  |  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unmcedu" target="_blank">Facebook</a>  |  <a href="https://instagram.com/iamunmc" target="_blank">Instagram</a>  |  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/UNMCEDU" target="_blank">YouTube</a>  |  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/unmc/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>&nbsp;

UNMCMonica Bertagnolli, MD, the 17th&nbsp;director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) joins UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Jan. 29 at 5 p.m. CST on a live broadcast of “Rural Health Matters” on RFD-TV.Dr. Bertagnolli is the latest headliner to appear with Dr. Gold on the weekly television broadcast, which delivers high-level yet accessible expertise on science, health, agriculture, the economy and more to RFD-TV’s national rural audience. “Rural Health Matters” is produced by RFD-TV in conjunction with UNMC and hosted by Dr. Gold and RFD-TV’s award-winning&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/christina-loren-news-anchor-meteorologist" target="_blank">anchor and meteorologist Christina Loren</a>.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmTSmZOYN5Y7Ehfl5KXrvb1SLnMI-hcdr" target="_blank">Here is an archive of previous “Rural Health Matters” episodes</a>Guests have included a mix of regional and national figures – officials from the NIH and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high-ranking military, members of Congress and more – and UNMC’s own Nebraska stakeholders, extended med center family and faculty with national-level expertise.Monday night’s guest, Dr. Bertagnolli, is the first surgeon and second woman to serve as NIH director. She oversees the work of the largest funder of biomedical and behavioral research in the world and is former director of the National Cancer Institute. And she is a rural American herself, having grown up on a Wyoming cattle ranch.Dr. Gold said UNMC is grateful to RFD-TV for having the generosity and foresight to create and air the show as a public service during the pandemic. But “Rural Health Matters” has since become so much more, addressing a myriad of issues that affect rural America.A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_eeWacoms4" target="_blank">2022 episode</a>&nbsp;featuring since-retired director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Anthony Fauci, MD,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unmc.edu/newsroom/2023/07/06/episode-of-rural-health-matters-wins-telly-award/" target="_blank">earned a Silver honor</a>&nbsp;in the 44th&nbsp;annual Telly Awards.“It is incredibly gratifying for our academic health science center to have a hand in bringing these experts to RFD-TV’s national rural audience and vice-versa,” the chancellor said.As a result, UNMC increasingly is becoming a household name throughout rural America.RFD-TV’s corporate headquarters are in Omaha, and broadcast operations in Nashville. It is available in 52 million homes&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/find-us-on-tv" target="_blank">via cable or streaming</a>&nbsp;and “is the nation’s first 24-hour television network featuring programming focused on the agribusiness, equine and the rural lifestyles, along with traditional country music and entertainment,” according to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/" target="_blank">its website</a>.Viewers at home often take part in the show with live call-in questions. Call 877-731-6733 to ask Dr. Bertagnolli a question or take part in the show.How to watch “Rural Health Matters”“Rural Health Matters” is live Monday nights at 5 p.m. Central on RFD-TV or available for replay within a few days on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmTSmZOYN5Y7Ehfl5KXrvb1SLnMI-hcdr" target="_blank">UNMC’s YouTube channel</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rfdtv.com/find-us-on-tv" target="_blank">Click here</a>&nbsp;to find RFD-TV via your existing cable, satellite or streaming services. If unavailable, packages to watch live may be purchased at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.watchrfdtv.com/" target="_blank">watchrfdtv.com</a>.About UNMC&nbsp;As Nebraska’s only public academic health science center, the University of Nebraska Medical Center enrolls more than 4,500 students across six colleges, two institutes and a graduate studies program. Its mission is to create a healthier future for Nebraskans through premier education,&nbsp;research&nbsp;and clinical care, but its impact -- rooted in a culture of collaboration,&nbsp;big ideas&nbsp;and public-private partnerships – goes far beyond, in areas that include infectious diseases, rural health, cancer research and treatments, global health security, and&nbsp;simulation and experiential learning technologies.&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/unmc" target="_blank">Twitter</a>  |  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/unmcedu" target="_blank">Facebook</a>  |  <a href="https://instagram.com/iamunmc" target="_blank">Instagram</a>  |  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/UNMCEDU" target="_blank">YouTube</a>  |  <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/unmc/" target="_blank">Flickr</a>&nbsp;

NIH director to join UNMC chancellor on ‘Rural Health Matters’

(YORK, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people after locating 33 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near York.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a trooper observed an eastbound Kia Sportage following another vehicle too closely on Interstate 80 near York. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.

A search of the vehicle revealed 33 pounds of methamphetamine contained in a duffle bag in the rear of the vehicle. Troopers also found a small amount of cocaine and marijuana.

The driver, Uriel Alcala, 29, of Perris, California, and Christofer Cruz, 30, of Lancaster, California, were arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver. Both men were lodged in York County Jail.

Cody ThomasNebraska State Patrol(YORK, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested two people after locating 33 pounds of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on Interstate 80 near York.At approximately 1:30 p.m. Thursday, a trooper observed an eastbound Kia Sportage following another vehicle too closely on Interstate 80 near York. During the traffic stop, the trooper became suspicious of criminal activity.A search of the vehicle revealed 33 pounds of methamphetamine contained in a duffle bag in the rear of the vehicle. Troopers also found a small amount of cocaine and marijuana.The driver, Uriel Alcala, 29, of Perris, California, and Christofer Cruz, 30, of Lancaster, California, were arrested for possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to deliver. Both men were lodged in York County Jail.

Troopers Find 33 LBs of Methamphetamine in I-80 Traffic Stop

JERUSALEM (AP) — Three American troops were killed and 25 were injured Sunday in a drone strike in northeast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jordan">Jordan</a>&nbsp;near the Syrian border, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3658484/announcement-of-us-casualties-in-northeast-jordan-near-syria-border/">U.S. military said</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran-backed militias</a>&nbsp;for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by the groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.

With an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">increasing the risk of military escalation</a>&nbsp;in the region, U.S. officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.

Biden said the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.”

According to a U.S. official, the number of troops wounded in the attack by a one-way attack drone may grow. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public, said a large drone struck the base, which two other American officials identified as an installation in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces.

The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops.

U.S. troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point. U.S. Central Command put the toll at three killed and 25 injured.

Some 3,000 American troops typically are stationed in Jordan.

The militias have said that their strikes are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israeli in the war in Gaza and have also said they aim to push U.S. forces out of the region.

The U.S. in recent months has struck targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to respond to attacks on American forces in the region and to deter Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from continuing to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

Biden, who was in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, was briefed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. He was expected to meet again with his national security team later Sunday.

The president called it a “despicable and wholly unjust attack” and said the service members were “risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561036312700.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — Three American troops were killed and 25 were injured Sunday in a drone strike in northeast&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/jordan">Jordan</a>&nbsp;near the Syrian border, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3658484/announcement-of-us-casualties-in-northeast-jordan-near-syria-border/">U.S. military said</a>.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/">President Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;blamed&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/iran">Iran-backed militias</a>&nbsp;for the first U.S. fatalities after months of strikes by the groups against American forces across the Middle East amid the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>.With an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-rebels-missiles-iran-seizure-us-8112fbadd3b0689c71a92890895a9368">increasing the risk of military escalation</a>&nbsp;in the region, U.S. officials were working to conclusively identify the precise group responsible for the attack, but they have assessed that one of several Iranian-backed groups was behind it.Biden said the United States “will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing.”According to a U.S. official, the number of troops wounded in the attack by a one-way attack drone may grow. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details not made public, said a large drone struck the base, which two other American officials identified as an installation in Jordan known as Tower 22. It is along the Syrian border and is used largely by troops involved in the advise-and-assist mission for Jordanian forces.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1706467111384.png" alt="Google map" />
 <figcaption>Google map</figcaption>
 </figure>The small installation, which Jordan does not publicly disclose, includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops.The U.S. military base at al-Tanf in Syria is just 20 kilometers (12 miles) north of Tower 22. The Jordanian installation provides a critical logistical hub for U.S. forces in Syria, including those at al-Tanf, which is near the intersection of the Iraq, Syria and Jordan borders.Jordanian state television quoted Muhannad Mubaidin, a government spokesman, as insisting the attack happened across the border in Syria.U.S. troops long have used Jordan, a kingdom bordering Iraq, Israel, the Palestinian territory of the West Bank, Saudi Arabia and Syria, as a basing point. U.S. Central Command put the toll at three killed and 25 injured.Some 3,000 American troops typically are stationed in Jordan.Since the war in Gaza began Oct. 7, Iranian-backed militias have struck American military installations in Iraq more than 60 times and in Syria more than 90 times, with a mix of drones, rockets, mortars and ballistic missiles. The attack Sunday was the first targeting American troops in Jordan during the Israel-Hamas war and the first to result in the loss of American lives. Scores of U.S. personnel have been wounded, including some with traumatic brain injuries, during the attacks.The militias have said that their strikes are in retaliation for Washington’s support for Israeli in the war in Gaza and have also said they aim to push U.S. forces out of the region.The U.S. in recent months has struck targets in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to respond to attacks on American forces in the region and to deter Iranian-backed Houthi rebels from continuing to threaten commercial shipping in the Red Sea.Biden, who was in Columbia, South Carolina, on Sunday, was briefed by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and principal deputy national security adviser Jon Finer, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. He was expected to meet again with his national security team later Sunday.The president called it a “despicable and wholly unjust attack” and said the service members were “risking their own safety for the safety of their fellow Americans, and our allies and partners with whom we stand in the fight against terrorism. It is a fight we will not cease.”Syria is still in the midst of a civil war and long has been a launch pad for Iranian-backed forces there, including the Lebanese militia Hezbollah. Iraq has multiple Iranian-backed Shiite militias operating there as well.Jordan, a staunch Western ally and a crucial power in Jerusalem for its oversight of holy sites there, is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/syria-jordan-sweida-captagon-smuggling-strike-24423e9b3b1038e5bced4a446dd3aee6">suspected of launching airstrikes in Syria</a>&nbsp;to disrupt drug smugglers, including one that killed nine people earlier this month.An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq earlier claimed launching explosive drone attacks targeting three areas in Syria, as well as one inside of “occupied Palestine.” The group has claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began.___

Biden: U.S. service members killed, 'many' wounded in attack by Iran-back militia

JERUSALEM (AP) — The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hourslong fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.

The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the U.S.

Early Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-gulf-aden-shipping-british-military-7fafd1cfb3e04209b97a0d0f2abd5c26">had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it</a>.

The Marlin Luanda burned for hours in the Gulf of Aden until being extinguished Saturday, said Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm. Its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans were still trying to battle the blaze sparked by the missile strike, it said. No one was injured by the blast, it added.

“We are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished,” Trafigura said. “The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor.”

The Indian navy said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam was assisting the Marlin Luanda's crew in fighting the fire. It posted images showing the blaze still raging Saturday, likely fueled by the naphtha on board.

The ship, managed by a British firm, is carrying the Russian naphtha bound for Singapore, the company said. It described the flammable oil as being purchased below the price caps set by G7 sanctions placed on Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine. It wasn't clear what environmental impact the attack had caused.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Marlin Luanda in a prerecorded statement late Friday, describing it as a “British oil ship.” He insisted such attacks would continue.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.

Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say they’ll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-ship-attacks-israel-hamas-war-gaza-ef0b83ef2a7ca8c727288b50037287e5">two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis</a>, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.

China, which relies on the seaborne trade through the area, has called for calm. The U.S. had sought to get China to apply pressure on Iran, as Beijing remains a major buyer of Western-sanctioned Iranian oil.

But Russia so far has condemned the U.S. and the United Kingdom for carrying out its strikes targeting the Houthis, while also meeting with the rebel group in Moscow in recent days.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-houthi-attacks-red-sea-shipping-iran-8e55669e4d18cbc7007654640fa5fdc1">The U.S. Navy’s top Mideast commander told the AP</a>&nbsp;on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ceb6e7a86bf14a9a8d8ecf81c9dcc7ef">the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s</a>. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran and also saw the U.S. Navy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de425ed9833b4bdaa03306f37182995f">accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet</a>, killing 290 people in 1988.

Meanwhile Saturday, authorities reported a separate incident in which a vessel in the Arabian Sea reported seeing people armed with assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade off their vessel.

“The small craft approached within 300 meters (about 985 feet),” the British military's United Kingdom Trade Operations agency said. “The onboard security team fired warning shots and post an exchange of fire, the small craft then retreated.”

It said all those onboard were safe. The private security firm Ambrey described the incident as involving a “Somali-style” small boat aided by a larger mothership. As the Houthi attacks have escalated, there's been an increase in suspected Somali pirate activity as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701652753204.png" alt="U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Carney -photo U.S. Central Command</figcaption>
 </figure>JERUSALEM (AP) — The crew aboard a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels extinguished an hourslong fire onboard the stricken vessel Saturday sparked by the strike, authorities said.The attack on the Marlin Luanda further complicated the Red Sea crisis caused by the Iranian-backed rebels' attacks over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip</a>. The tanker carried Russian-produced naphtha, a flammable oil, drawing Moscow further into a conflict that so far it had blamed on the U.S.Early Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. military’s Central Command said. That attack came after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-gulf-aden-shipping-british-military-7fafd1cfb3e04209b97a0d0f2abd5c26">had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it</a>.The Marlin Luanda burned for hours in the Gulf of Aden until being extinguished Saturday, said Trafigura, a Singapore-based trading firm. Its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans were still trying to battle the blaze sparked by the missile strike, it said. No one was injured by the blast, it added.“We are pleased to confirm that all crew on board the Marlin Luanda are safe and the fire in the cargo tank has been fully extinguished,” Trafigura said. “The vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor.”The Indian navy said its guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam was assisting the Marlin Luanda's crew in fighting the fire. It posted images showing the blaze still raging Saturday, likely fueled by the naphtha on board.The ship, managed by a British firm, is carrying the Russian naphtha bound for Singapore, the company said. It described the flammable oil as being purchased below the price caps set by G7 sanctions placed on Russia over its ongoing war on Ukraine. It wasn't clear what environmental impact the attack had caused.Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Marlin Luanda in a prerecorded statement late Friday, describing it as a “British oil ship.” He insisted such attacks would continue.Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, imperiling shipping in a key route for global trade between Asia, the Mideast and Europe.Since the airstrike campaign began, the rebels now say they’ll target American and British ships as well. On Wednesday,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthis-ship-attacks-israel-hamas-war-gaza-ef0b83ef2a7ca8c727288b50037287e5">two American-flagged ships carrying cargo for the U.S. Defense and State departments came under attack by the Houthis</a>, forcing an escorting U.S. Navy warship to shoot some of the projectiles down.China, which relies on the seaborne trade through the area, has called for calm. The U.S. had sought to get China to apply pressure on Iran, as Beijing remains a major buyer of Western-sanctioned Iranian oil.But Russia so far has condemned the U.S. and the United Kingdom for carrying out its strikes targeting the Houthis, while also meeting with the rebel group in Moscow in recent days.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/us-navy-houthi-attacks-red-sea-shipping-iran-8e55669e4d18cbc7007654640fa5fdc1">The U.S. Navy’s top Mideast commander told the AP</a>&nbsp;on Monday that the Houthi attacks were the worst since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ceb6e7a86bf14a9a8d8ecf81c9dcc7ef">the so-called Tanker War of the 1980s</a>. It culminated in a one-day naval battle between Washington and Tehran and also saw the U.S. Navy&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/de425ed9833b4bdaa03306f37182995f">accidentally shoot down an Iranian passenger jet</a>, killing 290 people in 1988.Meanwhile Saturday, authorities reported a separate incident in which a vessel in the Arabian Sea reported seeing people armed with assault rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade off their vessel.“The small craft approached within 300 meters (about 985 feet),” the British military's United Kingdom Trade Operations agency said. “The onboard security team fired warning shots and post an exchange of fire, the small craft then retreated.”It said all those onboard were safe. The private security firm Ambrey described the incident as involving a “Somali-style” small boat aided by a larger mothership. As the Houthi attacks have escalated, there's been an increase in suspected Somali pirate activity as well.

Fire out on tanker hit by missile after US targets rebels in airstrike

Investing in the growth of a child as a parent, teacher, or mentor, and then seeing the child flourish to their fullest potential is both rewarding and inspiring. In schools and homes across the Third District, Nebraskans work tirelessly to create opportunities for students to learn and thrive. As a lawmaker, my mission is to support this work by maximizing the opportunities available to each and every student.

To support greater access to quality education for all, I again cosponsored a resolution introduced by my colleague, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) recognizing this week as National School Choice Week. Beginning at the state and local levels, school choice is an idea gaining ground nationwide. In 2023, Nebraska passed groundbreaking legislation to expand school choice, and at the federal level, I am working to advance innovative ways to ensure all of our students have the best chance to succeed.

A bill I have introduced, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), would empower parents to choose the best school for their students' needs. By leveraging tax incentives to encourage scholarship donations to non-profit organizations, not governmental entities, ECCA expands the opportunity for donor families and businesses to cover tuition or assist with other K-12 educational expenses in both public and private settings. These scholarships could even be used to supplement educational needs in districts where traditional alternatives do not exist.

The value unlocked for students by school choice initiatives in many states has been extraordinary. Students who would not otherwise have access to their preferred K-12 option have been able to enroll at the school best suited to their needs. Through ECCA we can expand this benefit to even more families across America. Currently, my bill has 143 cosponsors in the House. A version of ECCA introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has 29 cosponsors in the Senate.

Expanding opportunities for students in every community, from rural to urban, demands we do everything possible to prepare them for success in the career path best for them. Another resolution I cosponsor would recognize February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and call on educators to better inform students of the advantages of CTE. Many trade career paths offer more affordable credentialing requirements than traditional four-year degree tracks and very competitive starting wages. To retain talented young people in our state, we must educate students accurately about all opportunities in Nebraska’s skilled workforce.

Recently, I spoke on the House floor in recognition of Nebraska FFA's record-breaking growth. In public, private, and homeschool settings, student interest and participation in FFA is at an all-time high. Despite a shortage of agriculture educators, the Nebraska Agriculture Academy is making FFA participation accessible to students who are homeschooled or in remote communities where an FFA chapter may not be operating. Through Supervised Agricultural Experience projects these students are gaining hands-on experience to help our communities thrive such as raising their own cattle herds or tracking the time, funds, and labor spent on the demands of farming.

A student’s ZIP code or the socioeconomic status of their family should not be a barrier to quality education. I am optimistic about the future of Nebraska and our nation because of the outstanding career-growth avenues hard-working educators provide our young people to build character and develop competence. I will always advocate for greater educational opportunities for parents seeking the best for their&nbsp;children.

Adrian SmithInvesting in the growth of a child as a parent, teacher, or mentor, and then seeing the child flourish to their fullest potential is both rewarding and inspiring. In schools and homes across the Third District, Nebraskans work tirelessly to create opportunities for students to learn and thrive. As a lawmaker, my mission is to support this work by maximizing the opportunities available to each and every student.To support greater access to quality education for all, I again cosponsored a resolution introduced by my colleague, Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) recognizing this week as National School Choice Week. Beginning at the state and local levels, school choice is an idea gaining ground nationwide. In 2023, Nebraska passed groundbreaking legislation to expand school choice, and at the federal level, I am working to advance innovative ways to ensure all of our students have the best chance to succeed.A bill I have introduced, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), would empower parents to choose the best school for their students' needs. By leveraging tax incentives to encourage scholarship donations to non-profit organizations, not governmental entities, ECCA expands the opportunity for donor families and businesses to cover tuition or assist with other K-12 educational expenses in both public and private settings. These scholarships could even be used to supplement educational needs in districts where traditional alternatives do not exist.The value unlocked for students by school choice initiatives in many states has been extraordinary. Students who would not otherwise have access to their preferred K-12 option have been able to enroll at the school best suited to their needs. Through ECCA we can expand this benefit to even more families across America. Currently, my bill has 143 cosponsors in the House. A version of ECCA introduced by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) has 29 cosponsors in the Senate.Expanding opportunities for students in every community, from rural to urban, demands we do everything possible to prepare them for success in the career path best for them. Another resolution I cosponsor would recognize February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month and call on educators to better inform students of the advantages of CTE. Many trade career paths offer more affordable credentialing requirements than traditional four-year degree tracks and very competitive starting wages. To retain talented young people in our state, we must educate students accurately about all opportunities in Nebraska’s skilled workforce.Recently, I spoke on the House floor in recognition of Nebraska FFA's record-breaking growth. In public, private, and homeschool settings, student interest and participation in FFA is at an all-time high. Despite a shortage of agriculture educators, the Nebraska Agriculture Academy is making FFA participation accessible to students who are homeschooled or in remote communities where an FFA chapter may not be operating. Through Supervised Agricultural Experience projects these students are gaining hands-on experience to help our communities thrive such as raising their own cattle herds or tracking the time, funds, and labor spent on the demands of farming.A student’s ZIP code or the socioeconomic status of their family should not be a barrier to quality education. I am optimistic about the future of Nebraska and our nation because of the outstanding career-growth avenues hard-working educators provide our young people to build character and develop competence. I will always advocate for greater educational opportunities for parents seeking the best for their&nbsp;children.

Maximizing Educational Opportunity

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Wyoming

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of WyomingLogan Savage,&nbsp;43, of Arapahoe, Wyoming, was sentenced to 36 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and, in a separate crime, 24 months in prison for theft from an Indian organization. These sentences will be served concurrently. The defendant was also ordered to pay $81,922.37 in restitution. Chief U.S. District Court Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence on Jan. 23.Savage pled guilty to the assault crime in Oct. 2023. According to court documents, Savage admitted to entering the residence of the victim on Feb. 11, 2023, and then beating and kicking the victim and hitting the victim with a pistol.Savage pled guilty to the theft of an Indian organization charge in Nov. 2023. According to court documents, the defendant was employed as the Finance Director of Wind River Family and Community Healthcare (WRFCH) in Riverton from July 2022 through May 2023. WRFCH issued the defendant a credit card to use for business expenses. Company policy explicitly prohibited using the credit card for personal expenses. From about Oct. 1, 2022, through Mar. 31, 2023, Savage willfully misused the company credit card to make personal purchases including firearms, furniture, and groceries.The assault case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore. The theft case was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael J. Elmore and Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.