NEW YORK (AP) —The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences have agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims</a>,a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.

The Pac-12 became the final conference to sign off on the proposal Thursday when its university leaders voted to approve, according to a person with direct knowledge of the results.

The Southeastern Conference presidents and chancellors unanimously approved the deal earlier Thursday, another person with knowledge of that decision told The Associated Press. Both spoke spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement between the Pac-12, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA was still being prepared.

The other organizations voted to approve earlier in the week ahead of a Thursday deadline given by the plaintiffs’ attorneys.

The deal still must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case and challenges could arise, but if the agreement stands it will mark the beginning of a new era in college sports where athletes are compensated more like professionals and schools can compete for talent using direct payments.

The details in the plan signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishments for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-sports-sports-0aee610b0152c02dcd5d3eddb4d29f76">lifted restrictions on endorsement deals</a>&nbsp;backed by so-called name, image and likeness money.

Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons where a star quarterback or top prospect on a college basketball team are not only cashing in big-money NIL deals but have a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.

There are a host of details still to be determined, but the agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.

Some of that money will come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that are comprised of 69 schools (including Notre Dame),&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-752156fdb0ea01445f52b1b109d14922">dozens of other NCAA member schools</a>&nbsp;will see smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.

Schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences will end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million each over 10 years, the majority of which will be paid to athletes going forward.

The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the other 10 schools leave.

In the new compensation model, each school will be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rise so could the cap.

Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments and schools would be given the freedom to decide how that money is divvied up among sports programs. Scholarship limits by sport will be replaced by roster restrictions.

Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown along with whether schools will be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.

The class-action federal lawsuit at the center of the settlement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">House v. the NCAA,</a>&nbsp;was set to go to trial in January. The complaint, brought by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, said the NCAA, along with the five wealthiest conferences, improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money.

The suit also made the case that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.

Amid political and public pressure, and facing the prospect of another court loss that some in college sports claimed could reach $20 billion in damages, NCAA and conference officials conceded on what has long been a core principal of the enterprise: That schools don't directly pay the athletes to play beyond a scholarship.

That principle had already been dented numerous times over the last decade.

Notably, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-supreme-court-alston-college-athlete-benefits-5be12caeaf014da7d71baf0bb60646fe">against the NCAA in 2021</a>&nbsp;in a case related to education-related benefits. The narrow focus of the Alston case didn't collapse the collegiate sports system, but the strong rebuke of the NCAA's model of amateurism flung the door open to more lawsuits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former Yale athlete, put it bluntly: “The bottom line is that the NCAA and its member colleges are suppressing the pay of student athletes who collectively generate billions of dollars in revenues for colleges every year."

The settlement is expected to cover two other antitrust cases facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard vs. the NCAA and Carter vs. the NCAA are also currently in front of judges in the Northern District of California.

A fourth case, Fontenot vs, NCAA, creates a potential complication as it remains in a Colorado court after a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-3e26c017980afe0ee1c6a28f77abcf5a">denied a request</a>&nbsp;to combine it with Carter. Whether Fontenot becomes part of the settlement is unknown and it matters because the NCAA and its conferences don't want to be on the hook for more damages should they lose in court.

“We’re going to continue to litigate our case in Colorado and look forward to hearing about the terms of a settlement proposal once they’re actually released and put in front of a court,” said George Zelcs, a plaintiffs' attorney in Fontenot.

The solution agreed to in the settlement is landmark, but not surprising. College sports has been trending in this direction for years, with athletes receiving more and more monetary benefits and rights they say were long overdue.

In December, NCAA President Charlie Baker, the former Massachusetts governor who has been on the job for 14 months,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-baker-nil-c26542c528df277385fea7167026dbe6">proposed creating a new tier of Division I athletics</a>&nbsp;where the schools with the most resources would be required to pay at least half their athletes $30,000 per year. That suggestion, along with many other possibilities, remain under discussion.

The settlement does not make every issue facing college sports go away. There is still a question of whether athletes should be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1095US1095&amp;oq=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigAdIBCjEzMTU2ajFqMTWoAgiwAgE&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">deemed employees</a>&nbsp;of their schools, something Baker and other college sports leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-nil-charlie-baker-hearing-senate-83ed8f9e1fb267db1ce5e24d6b79617a">are fighting against.</a>

Some type of federal legislation or antitrust exemption is likely still needed to codify the terms of the settlement, protect the NCAA from future litigation and pre-empt state laws that attempt to neuter the organization's authority. As it is,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuits-d3abf6cdbe606668eb9a91ffd2218f72">the NCAA is still facing lawsuits</a>&nbsp;that challenge its ability to govern itself, including setting rules limiting multiple-time transfers.

Federal lawmakers have indicated they would like to get something done, but while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-congress-nil-f8b4d71460b9950694bfc66e2e6479e2">several bills have been introduced</a>&nbsp;none have gone anywhere.

Despite the unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Major college athletics is about to become more like professional sports than ever before.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587379293613.jpeg" alt="The settlement could cost the University of Nebraska millions" />
 <figcaption>The settlement could cost the University of Nebraska millions</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) —The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences have agreed to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims</a>,a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start directing millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.The Pac-12 became the final conference to sign off on the proposal Thursday when its university leaders voted to approve, according to a person with direct knowledge of the results.The Southeastern Conference presidents and chancellors unanimously approved the deal earlier Thursday, another person with knowledge of that decision told The Associated Press. Both spoke spoke on condition of anonymity because an official announcement between the Pac-12, SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast Conference and NCAA was still being prepared.The other organizations voted to approve earlier in the week ahead of a Thursday deadline given by the plaintiffs’ attorneys.The deal still must be approved by the federal judge overseeing the case and challenges could arise, but if the agreement stands it will mark the beginning of a new era in college sports where athletes are compensated more like professionals and schools can compete for talent using direct payments.The details in the plan signal the end of the NCAA’s bedrock amateurism model that dates to its founding in 1906. Indeed, the days of NCAA punishments for athletes driving booster-provided cars started vanishing three years ago when the organization&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/college-sports-sports-0aee610b0152c02dcd5d3eddb4d29f76">lifted restrictions on endorsement deals</a>&nbsp;backed by so-called name, image and likeness money.Now it is not far-fetched to look ahead to seasons where a star quarterback or top prospect on a college basketball team are not only cashing in big-money NIL deals but have a $100,000 school payment in the bank to play.There are a host of details still to be determined, but the agreement calls for the NCAA and the conferences to pay $2.77 billion over 10 years to more than 14,000 former and current college athletes who say now-defunct rules prevented them from earning money from endorsement and sponsorship deals dating to 2016.Some of that money will come from NCAA reserve funds and insurance but even though the lawsuit specifically targeted five conferences that are comprised of 69 schools (including Notre Dame),&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuit-settlement-752156fdb0ea01445f52b1b109d14922">dozens of other NCAA member schools</a>&nbsp;will see smaller distributions from the NCAA to cover the mammoth payout.Schools in the Big Ten, Big 12, Atlantic Coast and Southeastern conferences will end up bearing the brunt of the settlement at a cost of about $300 million each over 10 years, the majority of which will be paid to athletes going forward.The Pac-12 is also part of the settlement, with all 12 sharing responsibility even though Washington State and Oregon State will be the only league members left by this fall after the other 10 schools leave.PAYING ATHLETESIn the new compensation model, each school will be permitted but not required to set aside up to $21 million in revenue to share with athletes per year, though as revenues rise so could the cap.Athletes in all sports would be eligible for payments and schools would be given the freedom to decide how that money is divvied up among sports programs. Scholarship limits by sport will be replaced by roster restrictions.Whether the new compensation model is subject to the Title IX gender equity law is unknown along with whether schools will be able to bring NIL activities in-house as they hope and squeeze out the booster-run collectives that have sprouted up in the last few years to pay athletes. Both topics could lead to more lawsuits.THE CASEThe class-action federal lawsuit at the center of the settlement,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/9a01e3058fee79cbd69bfce7d861e3c9">House v. the NCAA,</a>&nbsp;was set to go to trial in January. The complaint, brought by former Arizona State swimmer Grant House and Sedona Prince, a former Oregon and current TCU basketball player, said the NCAA, along with the five wealthiest conferences, improperly barred athletes from earning endorsement money.The suit also made the case that athletes were entitled to a piece of the billions of dollars the NCAA and those conferences earn from media rights agreements with television networks.Amid political and public pressure, and facing the prospect of another court loss that some in college sports claimed could reach $20 billion in damages, NCAA and conference officials conceded on what has long been a core principal of the enterprise: That schools don't directly pay the athletes to play beyond a scholarship.That principle had already been dented numerous times over the last decade.Notably, the Supreme Court unanimously ruled&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-supreme-court-alston-college-athlete-benefits-5be12caeaf014da7d71baf0bb60646fe">against the NCAA in 2021</a>&nbsp;in a case related to education-related benefits. The narrow focus of the Alston case didn't collapse the collegiate sports system, but the strong rebuke of the NCAA's model of amateurism flung the door open to more lawsuits. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a former Yale athlete, put it bluntly: “The bottom line is that the NCAA and its member colleges are suppressing the pay of student athletes who collectively generate billions of dollars in revenues for colleges every year."THE OTHER CASESThe settlement is expected to cover two other antitrust cases facing the NCAA and major conferences that challenge athlete compensation rules. Hubbard vs. the NCAA and Carter vs. the NCAA are also currently in front of judges in the Northern District of California.A fourth case, Fontenot vs, NCAA, creates a potential complication as it remains in a Colorado court after a judge&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-settlement-3e26c017980afe0ee1c6a28f77abcf5a">denied a request</a>&nbsp;to combine it with Carter. Whether Fontenot becomes part of the settlement is unknown and it matters because the NCAA and its conferences don't want to be on the hook for more damages should they lose in court.“We’re going to continue to litigate our case in Colorado and look forward to hearing about the terms of a settlement proposal once they’re actually released and put in front of a court,” said George Zelcs, a plaintiffs' attorney in Fontenot.COLLEGE ATHLETICS OVERHAULThe solution agreed to in the settlement is landmark, but not surprising. College sports has been trending in this direction for years, with athletes receiving more and more monetary benefits and rights they say were long overdue.In December, NCAA President Charlie Baker, the former Massachusetts governor who has been on the job for 14 months,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-baker-nil-c26542c528df277385fea7167026dbe6">proposed creating a new tier of Division I athletics</a>&nbsp;where the schools with the most resources would be required to pay at least half their athletes $30,000 per year. That suggestion, along with many other possibilities, remain under discussion.The settlement does not make every issue facing college sports go away. There is still a question of whether athletes should be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;rlz=1C1GCEA_enUS1095US1095&amp;oq=Dartmouth+apnews+ralph+russo&amp;gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigATIHCAUQIRigAdIBCjEzMTU2ajFqMTWoAgiwAgE&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8">deemed employees</a>&nbsp;of their schools, something Baker and other college sports leaders&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-nil-charlie-baker-hearing-senate-83ed8f9e1fb267db1ce5e24d6b79617a">are fighting against.</a>Some type of federal legislation or antitrust exemption is likely still needed to codify the terms of the settlement, protect the NCAA from future litigation and pre-empt state laws that attempt to neuter the organization's authority. As it is,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-lawsuits-d3abf6cdbe606668eb9a91ffd2218f72">the NCAA is still facing lawsuits</a>&nbsp;that challenge its ability to govern itself, including setting rules limiting multiple-time transfers.Federal lawmakers have indicated they would like to get something done, but while&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ncaa-congress-nil-f8b4d71460b9950694bfc66e2e6479e2">several bills have been introduced</a>&nbsp;none have gone anywhere.Despite the unanswered questions, one thing is clear: Major college athletics is about to become more like professional sports than ever before.___

NCAA, nation's biggest conferences ok $2.8 billion lawsuit settlement

CARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) — Sam Butcher, the artist who created the Precious Moments figurines depicting angelic teardrop-eyed children, has died. He was 85.

The company said in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPreciousMoments/posts/pfbid02CjXCJ7LRLisyo7DmHYwatfjtQXyMQUi3y2Sos6wh235po4BB9CPhzyDeaBcCLH41l">post</a>&nbsp;that he died early Monday surrounded by family. It said his life's mission was “to share God’s gift of love with the world.” No details about his cause of death were provided.

Some of the Christian-themed figurines feature Bible verses or children praying. Fans have collections numbering in the hundreds, while critics deride them as kitsch.

Butcher's childhood love of illustrating got a wider audience when he began telling Bible stories on a children’s ministry television show while he drew. That experience led to him cofounding a business in 1974 named Jonathan &amp; David after the biblical figures, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/sam-butcher-1939-2024-precious-moments-founder-and-artist/">online obituary.</a>

Early offerings included greeting cards. And within a few years, those drawings were transformed into porcelain figurines.

Thousands of designs have been produced over the decades, and fans of his work flock each year to the Precious Moments Inspiration Park and Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri.

The cornerstone of the pastel-painted, non-denominational oasis is the chapel, which Butcher was inspired to build by a 1983 trip to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. It includes 84 Biblical murals that cover more than 5,000 square feet.

CARTHAGE, Mo. (AP) — Sam Butcher, the artist who created the Precious Moments figurines depicting angelic teardrop-eyed children, has died. He was 85.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FOfficialPreciousMoments%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02CjXCJ7LRLisyo7DmHYwatfjtQXyMQUi3y2Sos6wh235po4BB9CPhzyDeaBcCLH41l&show_text=true&width=500&is_preview=true" width="500" height="764" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>The company said in a Facebook&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/OfficialPreciousMoments/posts/pfbid02CjXCJ7LRLisyo7DmHYwatfjtQXyMQUi3y2Sos6wh235po4BB9CPhzyDeaBcCLH41l">post</a>&nbsp;that he died early Monday surrounded by family. It said his life's mission was “to share God’s gift of love with the world.” No details about his cause of death were provided.Some of the Christian-themed figurines feature Bible verses or children praying. Fans have collections numbering in the hundreds, while critics deride them as kitsch.Butcher's childhood love of illustrating got a wider audience when he began telling Bible stories on a children’s ministry television show while he drew. That experience led to him cofounding a business in 1974 named Jonathan &amp; David after the biblical figures, according to his&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/sam-butcher-1939-2024-precious-moments-founder-and-artist/">online obituary.</a>Early offerings included greeting cards. And within a few years, those drawings were transformed into porcelain figurines.Thousands of designs have been produced over the decades, and fans of his work flock each year to the Precious Moments Inspiration Park and Precious Moments Chapel in Carthage, Missouri.The cornerstone of the pastel-painted, non-denominational oasis is the chapel, which Butcher was inspired to build by a 1983 trip to the Sistine Chapel in Rome. It includes 84 Biblical murals that cover more than 5,000 square feet.

Precious Moments creator Sam Butcher dies at 85

Nebraska Natural Resource District

LINCOLN, Nebraska&nbsp;– Amid a series of intense rainstorms, eastern Nebraska faced a deluge that brought up to 10 inches of rain within hours. Thanks to a network of floodwater-reduction dams, lives were saved, and property damage was significantly mitigated.

These dams, built through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), proved their worth during this extreme weather event on May 21.

<a>Within the 51,000-acre Bellwood Creek Watershed, 13 dams south of Bellwood, Nebraska, in Butler County, prevented an estimated $1 million in damages to downstream property and infrastructure. The Lower Platte North&nbsp;NRD is responsible for the operation and maintenance of these 13&nbsp;structures.</a>

Similarly, the 34,000-acre Cottonwood Creek sub-watershed, northwest of Wahoo, Nebraska, in Saunders County, benefitted from 12 dams that prevented an estimated $300,000 in damages. Despite these protective measures, the town of Wahoo still experienced significant flooding. However, the presence of the dams helped reduce the overall impact. The towns of Prague and Malmo also saw benefits from these dams. The Lower Platte North NRD manages these structures.

“While we understand we will never able to control all flooding we are working hard to reduce flooding and flood-related damages throughout our 1 million+ acre district,” said Eric Gottschalk, Lower Platte North NRD general manager.

In the 63,000-acre North Oak sub-watershed, spanning portions of Butler, Saunders and Lancaster Counties, 16 dams prevented an estimated $800,000 in property and infrastructure damage. The towns of Valparaiso and Raymond are located within this watershed. The Lower Platte South NRD oversees the maintenance of these dams.

“NRCS has been a proud partner with Natural Resources Districts by providing technical and financial assistance for over 50 years,” said Nebraska NRCS State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “One of our priorities is assisting local sponsors in identifying and completing floodwater prevention projects to enhance public safety and reduce property damage. The performance of these watersheds structures is a proud accomplishment for NRCS, NRD sponsors, and the stakeholders who implemented this infrastructure.”

Lawson added that many residents within these watersheds or downstream may not realize the existence of these dams, but their value becomes evident during torrential rain events.

Recognizing the ongoing flood risks, the Lower Platte North NRD and NRCS approved the Upper Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan in 2022. This $19.7 million project aims to construct nine floodwater-reduction dams within a 100-square-mile area in the Wahoo Creek Watershed, generally located west of Wahoo, in Saunders County. The plan includes the construction of nine wet dams on sites south of Prague, west of Weston, and west of Wahoo.

“This project provides a critical link in reducing flood damages in the Wahoo Creek Watershed,” Gottschalk said. “After many years of planning, it is satisfying to see all components come together for completion by the end of 2026.”

Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been building and maintaining flood control structures to protect lives, property and the future.&nbsp;NRDs have taken on the operations and maintenance of watershed dams built with federal support from NRCS.

Nebraska’s extensive network of over 700 watershed structures is a critical component of its flood reduction infrastructure. The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Act, also known as PL-566, authorizes the NRCS to assist local organizations and government units in planning and implementing watershed projects. Nebraska’s NRDs have effectively utilized this federal funding in partnership with NRCS to enhance flood protection across the state.

The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property, and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nrdnet.org/" target="_blank">www.nrdnet.org</a>.

Nebraska Natural Resource DistrictLINCOLN, Nebraska&nbsp;– Amid a series of intense rainstorms, eastern Nebraska faced a deluge that brought up to 10 inches of rain within hours. Thanks to a network of floodwater-reduction dams, lives were saved, and property damage was significantly mitigated.These dams, built through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in partnership with Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts (NRDs), proved their worth during this extreme weather event on May 21.<a>Within the 51,000-acre Bellwood Creek Watershed, 13 dams south of Bellwood, Nebraska, in Butler County, prevented an estimated $1 million in damages to downstream property and infrastructure. The Lower Platte North&nbsp;NRD is responsible for the operation and maintenance of these 13&nbsp;structures.</a>Similarly, the 34,000-acre Cottonwood Creek sub-watershed, northwest of Wahoo, Nebraska, in Saunders County, benefitted from 12 dams that prevented an estimated $300,000 in damages. Despite these protective measures, the town of Wahoo still experienced significant flooding. However, the presence of the dams helped reduce the overall impact. The towns of Prague and Malmo also saw benefits from these dams. The Lower Platte North NRD manages these structures.“While we understand we will never able to control all flooding we are working hard to reduce flooding and flood-related damages throughout our 1 million+ acre district,” said Eric Gottschalk, Lower Platte North NRD general manager.In the 63,000-acre North Oak sub-watershed, spanning portions of Butler, Saunders and Lancaster Counties, 16 dams prevented an estimated $800,000 in property and infrastructure damage. The towns of Valparaiso and Raymond are located within this watershed. The Lower Platte South NRD oversees the maintenance of these dams.“NRCS has been a proud partner with Natural Resources Districts by providing technical and financial assistance for over 50 years,” said Nebraska NRCS State Conservationist Rob Lawson. “One of our priorities is assisting local sponsors in identifying and completing floodwater prevention projects to enhance public safety and reduce property damage. The performance of these watersheds structures is a proud accomplishment for NRCS, NRD sponsors, and the stakeholders who implemented this infrastructure.”Lawson added that many residents within these watersheds or downstream may not realize the existence of these dams, but their value becomes evident during torrential rain events.Recognizing the ongoing flood risks, the Lower Platte North NRD and NRCS approved the Upper Wahoo Creek Watershed Plan in 2022. This $19.7 million project aims to construct nine floodwater-reduction dams within a 100-square-mile area in the Wahoo Creek Watershed, generally located west of Wahoo, in Saunders County. The plan includes the construction of nine wet dams on sites south of Prague, west of Weston, and west of Wahoo.“This project provides a critical link in reducing flood damages in the Wahoo Creek Watershed,” Gottschalk said. “After many years of planning, it is satisfying to see all components come together for completion by the end of 2026.”Since their inception in 1972, Nebraska’s Natural Resources Districts have been building and maintaining flood control structures to protect lives, property and the future.&nbsp;NRDs have taken on the operations and maintenance of watershed dams built with federal support from NRCS.Nebraska’s extensive network of over 700 watershed structures is a critical component of its flood reduction infrastructure. The Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Act, also known as PL-566, authorizes the NRCS to assist local organizations and government units in planning and implementing watershed projects. Nebraska’s NRDs have effectively utilized this federal funding in partnership with NRCS to enhance flood protection across the state.The Nebraska Association of Resources Districts (NARD), the trade association for Nebraska's 23 Natural Resources Districts (NRD), works with individual districts to protect lives, property, and the future of Nebraska’s natural resources. NRDs are unique to Nebraska, and act as local government entities with broad responsibilities to protect Nebraska’s natural resources. Major Nebraska river basins form the boundaries of the 23 NRDs, enabling districts to respond to local conservation and resource management needs. Learn more about Nebraska’s NRDs at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nrdnet.org/" target="_blank">www.nrdnet.org</a>.

   Dams Protect Lives and Property During Intense Rainstorms

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/23/nebraska-advocates-fear-catastrophic-nursing-home-staffing-rule-will-lead-to-closures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;Some Nebraska advocates and lawmakers are fearing more nursing home closures in light of a finalized federal rule for minimum staffing requirements.

In May, the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/10/2024-08273/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-minimum-staffing-standards-for-long-term-care-facilities-and-medicaid">published a rule</a>&nbsp;that will set, for the first time, the minimum number of daily nursing hours per resident that facilities must meet (3.48), with a registered nurse on hand at all times. Implementation will be staggered in the next two to five years, differing for rural and urban facilities, and hardship exemptions are available.

Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the agency administrator, said the changes —&nbsp;part of a handful of new regulations —&nbsp;ensure eligible people can benefit from the “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-takes-historic-action-increase-access-quality-care-and-support-families#:~:text=CMS%20is%20developing%20a%20%2475,to%20work%20in%20nursing%20homes.">critical lifeline</a>” of health coverage.

“Now, CMS has set its sights on an equally ambitious goal: making sure that coverage connects people to consistently high-quality care, regardless of where they live or receive care,” Brooks-La-Sure said in a statement.

The rule comes partially in response to many nursing home closures and resident deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2024/05/cms-publishes-final-rule-for-minimum-staffing-standards-in-skilled-nursing-facilities#:~:text=Deb%20Fischer%20(R%2DNE),on%20the%20nursing%20home%20workforce.">Many congressional lawmakers</a>&nbsp;have tried to stop the rule and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-health-associations-federal-lawmakers-criticize-nursing-home-staffing-proposal/">vowed to defeat it</a>, saying it would have disparate impacts, particularly in rural communities.

U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., was one lawmaker who introduced bipartisan legislation to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3410">prevent the rule’s publication</a>&nbsp;and establish an advisory panel on nursing home workforce issues. It was referred to the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Finance.

Gov. Jim Pillen, during a property tax town hall in Grand Island last week, said he has been to Washington, D.C., twice and met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-and-14-other-states-pen-letter-against-federal-nursing-home-staffing-proposal/">regarding the rule</a>. He said he’s asked for special exceptions.

“For crying out loud, we don’t have enough registered nurses to do that,” Pillen said.

Kierstin Reed, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, told the Nebraska Examiner that the state has more licensed practical nurses than registered nurses, for example.&nbsp;

“They [LPNs] have less education but more practical experience and they can pretty much do everything that an RN can do except for that clinical diagnosis that says, ‘Yes, this is what this is,’” Reed said.

Reed predicted the rule will lead to one of three outcomes: closures; reduced or eliminated services to lower the number of required staff; or some alternative workaround, such as decertification, which would prevent residents from paying for care with Medicare or Medicaid.

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us/">KFF</a>, which conducts&nbsp; health policy research, estimates that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-final-nursing-facility-rule-and-which-facilities-might-meet-new-staffing-requirements/">19% of facilities nationwide</a>&nbsp;currently meet all staffing minimums in the rule.

The federal nursing home staffing requirements will take effect in stages over the next five years, beginning with enhanced facility-wide staffing assessment requirements.

Next, a registered nurse must be on hand at all times, and residents must have at least 3.48 daily hours of dedicated nursing care.&nbsp;

Finally, the 3.48 care hours per resident must include at least 0.55 hours with a registered nurse and 2.45 hours with nurse aides. The final 0.48 hours can be with any nursing staff type, including licensed practical nurses.

Nearly 60% of facilities meet the interim requirement of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, KFF states. A Nebraska-specific analysis estimates that for 179 facilities in the state, the following percentage of facilities are already meeting the rule’s components:

In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/in-45-states-fewer-than-half-of-nursing-facilities-have-enough-staff-to-meet-new-federal-requirements/">more than half of the country</a>, facilities meet less than 25% of the rule requirements, consisting of the most populous states.

The federal agency has estimated that facilities would need to hire about 16,000 RNs and 35,306 nurse aides, KFF states, with&nbsp;nonprofit and government facilities being closer to the goal.

Todd Stubbendieck, director of AARP Nebraska, said his organization represents the people in the facilities, not the industry, and said better staffing leads to better health outcomes.

“Our point also is that these residents deserve the best quality of care possible,” he said.

Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer for the national AARP, described the rule as “long overdue” for minimum staffing levels that “will help protect the basic rights of residents to live in dignity.”

“Ensuring nursing homes are adequately staffed will improve the quality of care residents receive and can give family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are living with the quality of life they deserve,” LeaMond said in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://press.aarp.org/Statement-CMS-Final-Nursing-Home-Staffing-Rule#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFor%20years%2C%20AARP%20has%20fought,residents%20to%20live%20in%20dignity.">April 22 statement</a>.

Stubbendieck said that while staffing problems are sometimes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a staffing crisis has existed for a long time. He said AARP Nebraska has supported efforts to increase provider reimbursement rates and to train and equip more direct care staff.

“There’s one side to the story about these rules, but I think the exemptions and the staggered timelines in the amount of time facilities are being given to address these rules is another important part of the story,” Stubbendieck said.

Jalene Carpenter, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association, said the rule is “catastrophic” and brings no funding to specifically address the RN shortage in Nebraska. It also doesn’t account for “logical technological use,” such as telehealth.

Nebraska operators are already committed to quality and adequate staffing, she said, and regulations already require facilities to have enough staff to meet residents’ needs.

“This rule goes a significant step farther and says, ‘Here is a one-size-fits all [rule], doesn’t matter who your residents are or what their care levels are, you have to have this specific number,’ which we argue is a poor choice,” Carpenter said.

The federal government has announced plans to develop a $75 million national nursing home staffing campaign, which mirrors state-level efforts to attract more nurses and medical students.

Reed said a majority of registered nurses in the state work in hospitals and in rural communities, so they’d likely take jobs in hospitals instead of nursing homes. She envisioned more&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/17/state-makes-changes-to-nursing-scholarship-fund-to-reach-more-ne-students-before-deadline/#:~:text=By%3A%20Cindy%20Gonzalez%20%2D%20May%2017%2C%202024%205%3A45%20am&amp;text=In%202022%2C%20the%20Nebraska%20Legislature,workers%20into%20the%20field%20faster.">state-provided nursing scholarships</a>&nbsp;and state support would be needed.

“These are all very well-intentioned rules,” Reed said. “They’re unfunded though.”

State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said she worries about rural communities, though the impacts will spread to urban areas, and she agreed with Reed about the good intention behind the rules. However, Hughes said, the federal agency may have to go back to the drawing board.

“Closing them [nursing homes] is not the solution either, so I think we have got to start over, do better — something’s got to change,” Hughes said.

Pillen said while the state’s congressional delegation is working to stall or kill the rule, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are working in case it goes through.

“We’re not going to allow more nursing homes to close,” Pillen said.

The available hardship exemptions might be difficult to obtain, Reed said, and would be open to facilities that make good-faith efforts to try to match workforce needs and which are located in areas with workforce unavailability (a provider-to-population rate at least 20% lower than the national average). Nebraska already has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

If approved, the exemption status would need to be posted in a “prominent and publicly viewable location” and shared with current and prospective residents.

“Nebraska is nothing if not resilient,” Reed said. “We will figure it out.”

Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/23/nebraska-advocates-fear-catastrophic-nursing-home-staffing-rule-will-lead-to-closures/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;Some Nebraska advocates and lawmakers are fearing more nursing home closures in light of a finalized federal rule for minimum staffing requirements.In May, the U.S. Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/10/2024-08273/medicare-and-medicaid-programs-minimum-staffing-standards-for-long-term-care-facilities-and-medicaid">published a rule</a>&nbsp;that will set, for the first time, the minimum number of daily nursing hours per resident that facilities must meet (3.48), with a registered nurse on hand at all times. Implementation will be staggered in the next two to five years, differing for rural and urban facilities, and hardship exemptions are available.Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the agency administrator, said the changes —&nbsp;part of a handful of new regulations —&nbsp;ensure eligible people can benefit from the “<a target="_blank" href="https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-takes-historic-action-increase-access-quality-care-and-support-families#:~:text=CMS%20is%20developing%20a%20%2475,to%20work%20in%20nursing%20homes.">critical lifeline</a>” of health coverage.“Now, CMS has set its sights on an equally ambitious goal: making sure that coverage connects people to consistently high-quality care, regardless of where they live or receive care,” Brooks-La-Sure said in a statement.The rule comes partially in response to many nursing home closures and resident deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bradley.com/insights/publications/2024/05/cms-publishes-final-rule-for-minimum-staffing-standards-in-skilled-nursing-facilities#:~:text=Deb%20Fischer%20(R%2DNE),on%20the%20nursing%20home%20workforce.">Many congressional lawmakers</a>&nbsp;have tried to stop the rule and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-health-associations-federal-lawmakers-criticize-nursing-home-staffing-proposal/">vowed to defeat it</a>, saying it would have disparate impacts, particularly in rural communities.<h2>Nebraska lacks sufficient nurses</h2>U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., was one lawmaker who introduced bipartisan legislation to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/3410">prevent the rule’s publication</a>&nbsp;and establish an advisory panel on nursing home workforce issues. It was referred to the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Finance.Gov. Jim Pillen, during a property tax town hall in Grand Island last week, said he has been to Washington, D.C., twice and met with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-and-14-other-states-pen-letter-against-federal-nursing-home-staffing-proposal/">regarding the rule</a>. He said he’s asked for special exceptions.“For crying out loud, we don’t have enough registered nurses to do that,” Pillen said.Kierstin Reed, CEO of LeadingAge Nebraska, told the Nebraska Examiner that the state has more licensed practical nurses than registered nurses, for example.&nbsp;“They [LPNs] have less education but more practical experience and they can pretty much do everything that an RN can do except for that clinical diagnosis that says, ‘Yes, this is what this is,’” Reed said.Reed predicted the rule will lead to one of three outcomes: closures; reduced or eliminated services to lower the number of required staff; or some alternative workaround, such as decertification, which would prevent residents from paying for care with Medicare or Medicaid.<h2>How Nebraska shapes up compliance</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/about-us/">KFF</a>, which conducts&nbsp; health policy research, estimates that&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/a-closer-look-at-the-final-nursing-facility-rule-and-which-facilities-might-meet-new-staffing-requirements/">19% of facilities nationwide</a>&nbsp;currently meet all staffing minimums in the rule.<h2>Staggered implementation</h2>The federal nursing home staffing requirements will take effect in stages over the next five years, beginning with enhanced facility-wide staffing assessment requirements.<ul>
 <li>For both urban and rural facilities: Aug. 8, 2024.</li>
 </ul>Next, a registered nurse must be on hand at all times, and residents must have at least 3.48 daily hours of dedicated nursing care.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Urban facilities: May 2026.</li><li>Rural facilities: May 2027.</li>
 </ul>Finally, the 3.48 care hours per resident must include at least 0.55 hours with a registered nurse and 2.45 hours with nurse aides. The final 0.48 hours can be with any nursing staff type, including licensed practical nurses.<ul>
 <li>Urban facilities: May 2027.</li><li>Rural facilities: May 2029.</li>
 </ul>Nearly 60% of facilities meet the interim requirement of 3.48 hours of nursing care per resident per day, KFF states. A Nebraska-specific analysis estimates that for 179 facilities in the state, the following percentage of facilities are already meeting the rule’s components:<ul>
 <li>65% meet the registered nurse requirement of 0.55 hours of care per resident per day.</li><li>59% meet the nurse aide requirement of 2.45 hours of care per resident per day.</li><li>73% meet the total 3.48 hours of care per resident per day requirement.</li><li>46% meet all three requirements.</li>
 </ul>In&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kff.org/medicaid/press-release/in-45-states-fewer-than-half-of-nursing-facilities-have-enough-staff-to-meet-new-federal-requirements/">more than half of the country</a>, facilities meet less than 25% of the rule requirements, consisting of the most populous states.The federal agency has estimated that facilities would need to hire about 16,000 RNs and 35,306 nurse aides, KFF states, with&nbsp;nonprofit and government facilities being closer to the goal.<h2>‘Best quality of care possible’</h2>Todd Stubbendieck, director of AARP Nebraska, said his organization represents the people in the facilities, not the industry, and said better staffing leads to better health outcomes.“Our point also is that these residents deserve the best quality of care possible,” he said.Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president and chief advocacy and engagement officer for the national AARP, described the rule as “long overdue” for minimum staffing levels that “will help protect the basic rights of residents to live in dignity.”“Ensuring nursing homes are adequately staffed will improve the quality of care residents receive and can give family caregivers peace of mind, knowing their loved ones are living with the quality of life they deserve,” LeaMond said in an&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://press.aarp.org/Statement-CMS-Final-Nursing-Home-Staffing-Rule#:~:text=%E2%80%9CFor%20years%2C%20AARP%20has%20fought,residents%20to%20live%20in%20dignity.">April 22 statement</a>.Stubbendieck said that while staffing problems are sometimes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, a staffing crisis has existed for a long time. He said AARP Nebraska has supported efforts to increase provider reimbursement rates and to train and equip more direct care staff.“There’s one side to the story about these rules, but I think the exemptions and the staggered timelines in the amount of time facilities are being given to address these rules is another important part of the story,” Stubbendieck said.<h2>‘Catastrophic’ repercussions</h2>Jalene Carpenter, president and CEO of the Nebraska Health Care Association, said the rule is “catastrophic” and brings no funding to specifically address the RN shortage in Nebraska. It also doesn’t account for “logical technological use,” such as telehealth.Nebraska operators are already committed to quality and adequate staffing, she said, and regulations already require facilities to have enough staff to meet residents’ needs.“This rule goes a significant step farther and says, ‘Here is a one-size-fits all [rule], doesn’t matter who your residents are or what their care levels are, you have to have this specific number,’ which we argue is a poor choice,” Carpenter said.The federal government has announced plans to develop a $75 million national nursing home staffing campaign, which mirrors state-level efforts to attract more nurses and medical students.Reed said a majority of registered nurses in the state work in hospitals and in rural communities, so they’d likely take jobs in hospitals instead of nursing homes. She envisioned more&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/17/state-makes-changes-to-nursing-scholarship-fund-to-reach-more-ne-students-before-deadline/#:~:text=By%3A%20Cindy%20Gonzalez%20%2D%20May%2017%2C%202024%205%3A45%20am&amp;text=In%202022%2C%20the%20Nebraska%20Legislature,workers%20into%20the%20field%20faster.">state-provided nursing scholarships</a>&nbsp;and state support would be needed.“These are all very well-intentioned rules,” Reed said. “They’re unfunded though.”<h2>‘We will figure it out’</h2>State Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward said she worries about rural communities, though the impacts will spread to urban areas, and she agreed with Reed about the good intention behind the rules. However, Hughes said, the federal agency may have to go back to the drawing board.“Closing them [nursing homes] is not the solution either, so I think we have got to start over, do better — something’s got to change,” Hughes said.Pillen said while the state’s congressional delegation is working to stall or kill the rule, he and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services are working in case it goes through.“We’re not going to allow more nursing homes to close,” Pillen said.The available hardship exemptions might be difficult to obtain, Reed said, and would be open to facilities that make good-faith efforts to try to match workforce needs and which are located in areas with workforce unavailability (a provider-to-population rate at least 20% lower than the national average). Nebraska already has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.If approved, the exemption status would need to be posted in a “prominent and publicly viewable location” and shared with current and prospective residents.“Nebraska is nothing if not resilient,” Reed said. “We will figure it out.”

Nebraska advocates fear ‘catastrophic’ nursing home staffing rule will lead to closures

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– ﻿Governor Jim Pillen has joined the governors of 23 other states in opposition to the Biden administration’s expected commitment to two international agreements that would strengthen the World Health Organization’s (WHO) power to declare public health emergencies and grant the WHO Director-General authority over member states during such perceived emergencies. 

The agreements opposed would modify the WHO’s current International Health Regulations (IHRs) amendments and create a “Pandemic Agreement,” or treaty, that would significantly interfere with U.S. sovereignty and the ability of states to establish health policies and responses to public health emergencies.

The letter to President Joe Biden warns that the proposed instruments would empower the WHO with “the authority to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, including freedoms such as speech, privacy, travel, choice of medical care, and informed consent.”

Governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined Gov. Pillen in signing the letter to the President.

<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/5-22-24-Final-Joint-Letter-WHO-Pandemic-Treaty.pdf">5.22.24 Final Joint Letter WHO Pandemic Treaty</a>

Office of Govenor Jim PillenLINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– ﻿Governor Jim Pillen has joined the governors of 23 other states in opposition to the Biden administration’s expected commitment to two international agreements that would strengthen the World Health Organization’s (WHO) power to declare public health emergencies and grant the WHO Director-General authority over member states during such perceived emergencies. The agreements opposed would modify the WHO’s current International Health Regulations (IHRs) amendments and create a “Pandemic Agreement,” or treaty, that would significantly interfere with U.S. sovereignty and the ability of states to establish health policies and responses to public health emergencies.The letter to President Joe Biden warns that the proposed instruments would empower the WHO with “the authority to restrict the rights of U.S. citizens, including freedoms such as speech, privacy, travel, choice of medical care, and informed consent.”Governors from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming joined Gov. Pillen in signing the letter to the President.The full letter is attached.<a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/doc/press/5-22-24-Final-Joint-Letter-WHO-Pandemic-Treaty.pdf">5.22.24 Final Joint Letter WHO Pandemic Treaty</a>

Gov. Pillen Joins 23 States Opposing WHO Pandemic Treaty Proposals

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice">The Justice Department</a>&nbsp;filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to break up the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters and hurting artists.

"We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/merrick-garland">Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”

The Justice Department accuses Live Nation of a slew of practices that allow it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene, including using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don't choose Ticketmaster. The Justice Department says Live Nation also threatened to retaliate against one firm if it didn't stop a subsidiary from competing for artist promotion contracts.

Live Nation said in prepared remarks Thursday that the Justice Department's lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows.”

Live Nation added that “calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment" — stating that most service fees go to venues. The company said it would defend itself “against these baseless allegations" and push for other reforms.

Live Nation has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws and also said Thursday that competition had “steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin.”

But competitor ticket sellers have long complained that Live Nation makes it difficult for them to disrupt the market with practices such as withholding acts if those venues don’t agree to use Ticketmaster’s service.

The lawsuit is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement approach targeting companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3">filed a lawsuit against Apple</a>&nbsp;alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.

“Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.

Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller. During its annual report last month, the company said that Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.

Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America's concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.

The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour</a>. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.

The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had “repeatedly” violated that agreement and extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.

AP Reporters Michelle Chapman and Maria Sherman contri

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668687399028.jpeg" alt="-Ticketmaster tickets and gift cards are shown at a box office in San Jose, Calif., May 11, 2009. The Justice Department has filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the companies of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and squelching competition. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)" />
 <figcaption>-Ticketmaster tickets and gift cards are shown at a box office in San Jose, Calif., May 11, 2009. The Justice Department has filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and its parent company, Live Nation Entertainment, accusing the companies of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America and squelching competition. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-department-of-justice">The Justice Department</a>&nbsp;filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Attorney General Merrick Garland: &quot;We allege that Live Nation has illegally monopolized markets across the live concert industry in the United States for far too long. It is time to break it up.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/F2zoOnBZMq">pic.twitter.com/F2zoOnBZMq</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1793663670523686986?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 23, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Manhattan, was being brought with 30 state and district attorneys general and seeks to break up the monopoly they say is squeezing out smaller promoters and hurting artists."We allege that Live Nation relies on unlawful, anticompetitive conduct to exercise its monopolistic control over the live events industry in the United States at the cost of fans, artists, smaller promoters, and venue operators,”&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/merrick-garland">Attorney General Merrick Garland</a>&nbsp;said in a statement. “The result is that fans pay more in fees, artists have fewer opportunities to play concerts, smaller promoters get squeezed out, and venues have fewer real choices for ticketing services. It is time to break up Live Nation-Ticketmaster.”The Justice Department accuses Live Nation of a slew of practices that allow it to maintain a stronghold over the live music scene, including using long-term contracts to keep venues from choosing rival ticketers, blocking venues from using multiple ticket sellers and threatening venues that they could lose money and fans if they don't choose Ticketmaster. The Justice Department says Live Nation also threatened to retaliate against one firm if it didn't stop a subsidiary from competing for artist promotion contracts.Live Nation said in prepared remarks Thursday that the Justice Department's lawsuit “won’t solve the issues fans care about relating to ticket prices, service fees, and access to in-demand shows.”Live Nation added that “calling Ticketmaster a monopoly may be a PR win for the DOJ in the short term, but it will lose in court because it ignores the basic economics of live entertainment" — stating that most service fees go to venues. The company said it would defend itself “against these baseless allegations" and push for other reforms.Live Nation has for years denied that it is violating antitrust laws and also said Thursday that competition had “steadily eroded Ticketmaster’s market share and profit margin.”But competitor ticket sellers have long complained that Live Nation makes it difficult for them to disrupt the market with practices such as withholding acts if those venues don’t agree to use Ticketmaster’s service.The lawsuit is the latest example of the Biden administration’s aggressive antitrust enforcement approach targeting companies accused of engaging in illegal monopolies that box out competitors and drive up prices. In March, the Justice Department&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-antitrust-monopoly-app-store-justice-department-822d7e8f5cf53a2636795fcc33ee1fc3">filed a lawsuit against Apple</a>&nbsp;alleging that the tech giant has monopoly power in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/smartphones">the smartphone market</a>. The Democratic administration has also taken on Google, Amazon and other tech giants.“Today’s action is a step forward in making this era of live music more accessible for the fans, the artists, and the industry that supports them,” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said in a statement.Ticketmaster, which merged with Live Nation in 2010, is the world’s largest ticket seller. During its annual report last month, the company said that Ticketmaster distributed more than 620 million tickets through its systems in 2023.Around 70% of tickets for major concert venues in the U.S. are sold through Ticketmaster, according to data in a federal lawsuit filed by consumers in 2022. The company owns or controls more than 265 of North America's concert venues and dozens of top amphitheaters, according to the Justice Department.The ticket seller sparked outrage in November 2022 when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/taylor-swift-ticketmaster-concert-tickets-parents-34399cca6403c97f0983a5c69c7edec0">its site crashed during a presale event for a Taylor Swift stadium tour</a>. The company said its site was overwhelmed by both fans and attacks from bots, which were posing as consumers to scoop up tickets and sell them on secondary sites. The debacle prompted congressional hearings and bills in state legislatures aimed at better protecting consumers.The Justice Department allowed Live Nation and Ticketmaster to merge as long as Live Nation agreed not to retaliate against concert venues for using other ticket companies for 10 years. In 2019, the department investigated and found that Live Nation had “repeatedly” violated that agreement and extended the prohibition on retaliating against concert venues to 2025.__________AP Reporters Michelle Chapman and Maria Sherman contri

🎥Justice Dept.: Illegal monopoly by Ticketmaster drives up prices for fans

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/22/omaha-born-malcolm-x-takes-a-place-in-nebraska-hall-of-fame-amid-cheering-sculpted-bust-unveiled/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — While Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned 2 years old, it is here that the roots of the human rights hero were planted, his daughter told more than 200 people gathered Wednesday for his induction into Nebraska’s Hall of Fame.

Ilyasah Shabazz said she was honored by Nebraska’s embrace. She told the audience that she sees her father’s entry as the state’s 27th hall-of-famer, and the hall’s first African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries and reflect on how to make an impact.

“He challenged us to be better human beings as he introduced a human rights agenda into the Civil Rights Movement,” said Shabazz, of New York. “Let Malcolm’s dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my father’s life and transformation as it relates to their journeys.”

Wednesday’s official induction ceremony, held in the Nebraska Capitol’s Warner Chamber with overflow seating in other areas, capped a journey of its own — one that included the rejection of at least two previous nominations.&nbsp;

Some along the way thought Malcolm X — who would have turned 99 years old this past weekend — was too controversial for the hall created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1961. It was designed to officially recognize Nebraskans who have made significant contributions to the state and the nation.

A new member can be added every five years. They must be deceased at least 35 years.

Hall of Fame Commission members vote on nominees, and Ron Hull, then-chair of the committee and a longtime public television broadcaster, cast the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">deciding vote in 2022 on Malcolm X’s nomination.</a>&nbsp;Hull has since died but on Wednesday the commission’s Sara Crook recounted his words:

“Malcolm used the lessons he learned early in life and his intellectual power, dedication and perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality for all.… His work and his legacy continue to impact the citizens of the world.”

Kicking off the event was a Muslim prayer given by Bilal Nosilla and Rebeen Kareem, both of Nebraska, in recognition of Malcolm X’s religious and spiritual contributions.

Also speaking at the event was Gov. Jim Pillen, who proclaimed Wednesday Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.

A climactic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lincoln-sculptor-chosen-to-produce-bust-of-malcolm-x-for-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray</a>. The piece is to be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially. It will eventually be placed in a State Capitol hallway amid other Hall of Fame member busts.

Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers also spoke, offering a sense of what, to some, seemed an improbable feat.

At age 86 — and after having served 46 years in the Legislature, the longest-serving of any state lawmaker — Chambers said he thought he’d never live to see the day.

“I never thought in my wildest dream that I would live long enough … to see a white conservative Republican governor in a white ultraconservative state like&nbsp; Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X” into the Hall of Fame.

JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, who heads the Omaha-based Malcolm X Foundation, said later that the moment serves as an opportunity to “correct” the historical context — including Malcolm X’s short time in Nebraska.

She said it was “no accident” Malcolm X was born in Omaha, where his parents had intended to stay.&nbsp;

“He only left at a young age because his family was chased out of Nebraska because of their world view on the philosophy that Black people should be equal and self-sufficient in this country,&nbsp;” LeFlore-Ejike said.

LeFlore-Ejike said the journey to the Hall of Fame can serve as a tool for educators, historians and emerging leaders to use in reinforcing the importance of “collaboration and perseverance” for “something of this magnitude to take place.”

Shabazz, one of six daughters born to Malcolm X and his wife, Betty, said she was humbled at the cheering and reception by Nebraskans.

&nbsp;“I think we’ve come a long way,” she said, of the route to get to the Hall of Fame. “We still have far to go, but we’ve come a long way.”

She and LeFlore-Ejike said Malcolm X’s evolution and message is especially important to young generations.

“Malcolm has a journey that a lot of people can relate to,” said LeFlore-Ejike. “They can learn how to push through adversity and be resilient.”

Shabazz said she looks forward to returning to Nebraska to see the growing Omaha campus that honors the legacy of her father. Under the wings of the Malcolm X foundation, the memorial site was developed around Malcolm X’s first home near 35th and Pinkney Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;

With a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/25/malcolm-x-museum-to-rise-in-north-omaha-with-boost-from-20-million-state-grant/">boost from a $20 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;allocated by the Legislature, it is poised for further expansion including a museum.&nbsp;

Born Malcolm Little at University Hospital in Omaha on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of Earl and Louise Little.&nbsp;

The family moved to another state after Earl Little — who helped organize the Omaha chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association — faced threats by white supremacist night riders.

Earl Little was killed, and shortly afterward, his wife was diagnosed with a mental illness, pushing the state to split up Malcolm and his seven siblings into foster care.

Eventually, Malcolm was sent to Boston to live with his older sister Ella Collins-Little and relocated to New York, where he was convicted of burglary and served a prison sentence of about 6.5 years. During that time, he became self-educated, started attracting attention for his oratory skills, and converted to Islam prior to his release, according to History Nebraska.

After leaving prison, Malcolm took the name Malcolm X and studied under Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam during his 12-year membership. Malcolm was known for being outspoken about the mistreatment of Blacks and advocated nationwide for their human rights in America. He was documented speaking at numerous institutions across the country and over a dozen nations overseas.

During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Orthodox Islam, abandoning concepts of racial antagonism; counseling others about the need for human brotherhood and international cooperation.&nbsp;

As a result of his travels, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Moslem Mosque Inc. His autobiography was published in 1964, just a few months before his death. Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, in New York City.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716470368517.jpeg" alt="A line of Nebraskans formed Wednesday to take photos with the newly unveiled bust sculpture of Malcolm X, which was designed by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray, who is shown here with Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz (right of the bust) and JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. The bust is to be displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda before placed permanently in a Capitol hallway with other Hall of Fame busts. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>A line of Nebraskans formed Wednesday to take photos with the newly unveiled bust sculpture of Malcolm X, which was designed by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray, who is shown here with Malcolm X’s daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz (right of the bust) and JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, executive director of the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation. The bust is to be displayed in the State Capitol Rotunda before placed permanently in a Capitol hallway with other Hall of Fame busts. (Cindy Gonzalez/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/05/22/omaha-born-malcolm-x-takes-a-place-in-nebraska-hall-of-fame-amid-cheering-sculpted-bust-unveiled/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — While Malcolm X left Nebraska before he turned 2 years old, it is here that the roots of the human rights hero were planted, his daughter told more than 200 people gathered Wednesday for his induction into Nebraska’s Hall of Fame.Ilyasah Shabazz said she was honored by Nebraska’s embrace. She told the audience that she sees her father’s entry as the state’s 27th hall-of-famer, and the hall’s first African American, as significant in urging others to push boundaries and reflect on how to make an impact.“He challenged us to be better human beings as he introduced a human rights agenda into the Civil Rights Movement,” said Shabazz, of New York. “Let Malcolm’s dedication to truth and justice inspire us all, ensuring that future generations understand the full story of my father’s life and transformation as it relates to their journeys.”<h2>Never thought he’d see the day</h2>Wednesday’s official induction ceremony, held in the Nebraska Capitol’s Warner Chamber with overflow seating in other areas, capped a journey of its own — one that included the rejection of at least two previous nominations.&nbsp;Some along the way thought Malcolm X — who would have turned 99 years old this past weekend — was too controversial for the hall created by the Nebraska Legislature in 1961. It was designed to officially recognize Nebraskans who have made significant contributions to the state and the nation.A new member can be added every five years. They must be deceased at least 35 years.Hall of Fame Commission members vote on nominees, and Ron Hull, then-chair of the committee and a longtime public television broadcaster, cast the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2022/09/12/malcolm-x-edges-nu-educator-louise-pound-for-induction-into-the-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">deciding vote in 2022 on Malcolm X’s nomination.</a>&nbsp;Hull has since died but on Wednesday the commission’s Sara Crook recounted his words:“Malcolm used the lessons he learned early in life and his intellectual power, dedication and perseverance in the fight for freedom and equality for all.… His work and his legacy continue to impact the citizens of the world.”Kicking off the event was a Muslim prayer given by Bilal Nosilla and Rebeen Kareem, both of Nebraska, in recognition of Malcolm X’s religious and spiritual contributions.Also speaking at the event was Gov. Jim Pillen, who proclaimed Wednesday Malcolm X Day in Nebraska.A climactic moment came with the unveiling of a bust of Malcolm X,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/lincoln-sculptor-chosen-to-produce-bust-of-malcolm-x-for-nebraska-hall-of-fame/">sculpted by Lincoln artist Nathan Murray</a>. The piece is to be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda initially. It will eventually be placed in a State Capitol hallway amid other Hall of Fame member busts.Former State Sen. Ernie Chambers also spoke, offering a sense of what, to some, seemed an improbable feat.At age 86 — and after having served 46 years in the Legislature, the longest-serving of any state lawmaker — Chambers said he thought he’d never live to see the day.“I never thought in my wildest dream that I would live long enough … to see a white conservative Republican governor in a white ultraconservative state like&nbsp; Nebraska participate in the induction of Malcolm X” into the Hall of Fame.<h2>‘No accident’</h2>JoAnna LeFlore-Ejike, who heads the Omaha-based Malcolm X Foundation, said later that the moment serves as an opportunity to “correct” the historical context — including Malcolm X’s short time in Nebraska.She said it was “no accident” Malcolm X was born in Omaha, where his parents had intended to stay.&nbsp;“He only left at a young age because his family was chased out of Nebraska because of their world view on the philosophy that Black people should be equal and self-sufficient in this country,&nbsp;” LeFlore-Ejike said.LeFlore-Ejike said the journey to the Hall of Fame can serve as a tool for educators, historians and emerging leaders to use in reinforcing the importance of “collaboration and perseverance” for “something of this magnitude to take place.”Shabazz, one of six daughters born to Malcolm X and his wife, Betty, said she was humbled at the cheering and reception by Nebraskans.&nbsp;“I think we’ve come a long way,” she said, of the route to get to the Hall of Fame. “We still have far to go, but we’ve come a long way.”She and LeFlore-Ejike said Malcolm X’s evolution and message is especially important to young generations.“Malcolm has a journey that a lot of people can relate to,” said LeFlore-Ejike. “They can learn how to push through adversity and be resilient.”Shabazz said she looks forward to returning to Nebraska to see the growing Omaha campus that honors the legacy of her father. Under the wings of the Malcolm X foundation, the memorial site was developed around Malcolm X’s first home near 35th and Pinkney Streets in Omaha.&nbsp;With a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2024/02/25/malcolm-x-museum-to-rise-in-north-omaha-with-boost-from-20-million-state-grant/">boost from a $20 million federal grant</a>&nbsp;allocated by the Legislature, it is poised for further expansion including a museum.&nbsp;<h2>Born Malcolm Little in 1925</h2>Born Malcolm Little at University Hospital in Omaha on May 19, 1925, Malcolm X was the son of Earl and Louise Little.&nbsp;The family moved to another state after Earl Little — who helped organize the Omaha chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association — faced threats by white supremacist night riders.Earl Little was killed, and shortly afterward, his wife was diagnosed with a mental illness, pushing the state to split up Malcolm and his seven siblings into foster care.Eventually, Malcolm was sent to Boston to live with his older sister Ella Collins-Little and relocated to New York, where he was convicted of burglary and served a prison sentence of about 6.5 years. During that time, he became self-educated, started attracting attention for his oratory skills, and converted to Islam prior to his release, according to History Nebraska.After leaving prison, Malcolm took the name Malcolm X and studied under Elijah Muhammad, the leader of the Nation of Islam during his 12-year membership. Malcolm was known for being outspoken about the mistreatment of Blacks and advocated nationwide for their human rights in America. He was documented speaking at numerous institutions across the country and over a dozen nations overseas.During his pilgrimage to Mecca, he converted to Orthodox Islam, abandoning concepts of racial antagonism; counseling others about the need for human brotherhood and international cooperation.&nbsp;As a result of his travels, Malcolm X, also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, formed the Organization of Afro-American Unity and Moslem Mosque Inc. His autobiography was published in 1964, just a few months before his death. Malcolm X was assassinated on Feb. 21, 1965, in New York City.

Omaha-born Malcolm X takes a place in Nebraska Hall of Fame amid cheering, sculpted bust unveiled

GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.

The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.

It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.

The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.

Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.

The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.

In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.

Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.

“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.

This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.

Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.

On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.

Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.

The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.

The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.

“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.

People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.

About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.

“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”

Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.

Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.

Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”

Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716371806181.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — A deadly tornado that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/severe-weather-midwest-iowa-tornadoes-26c73e14ab481ef77a1b0606a2b10adc">wreaked havoc in the small city of Greenfield, Iowa</a>, left four people dead and nearly three dozen injured, officials said, while a fifth person was killed elsewhere.The twister that tore through the city&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/storms-flooding-winds-nebraska-omaha-iowa-07e423f20b8e81f40cc648090b8a2409">on Tuesday</a>&nbsp;was rated at least an EF-3 by the National Weather Service and was so destructive that it took authorities more than a day to account for the area's residents.It’s believed that the number of people injured is likely higher, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said.The fifth person was killed about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Greenfield when her car was blown off the road in a tornado, according to the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. Monica Zamarron, 46, died in the crash Tuesday afternoon, officials said.Officials haven't yet released the names of the other victims.The severe weather turned south Wednesday. In Texas, officials issued an emergency declaration in Temple, a city of more than 90,000 people north of Austin, after powerful storms ripped through the area. Thousands of residents lost power, schools canceled Thursday's classes and nearby Fort Cavazos reported significant debris blocking traffic at the Army installation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716372219187.png" alt="Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI" />
 <figcaption>Tornado damage in Greenfield, Iowa -photo courtesy KCCI</figcaption>
 </figure>In Iowa, the Greenfield tornado obliterated homes, splintered trees and crumpled cars in the town of 2,000 about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southwest of Des Moines. The twister also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/tornado-iowa-wind-farm-turbines-feb9913c3d53915ffa420e277af4bb6d">crumpled massive power-producing wind turbines</a>&nbsp;outside the city.Greenfield resident Kimberly Ergish and her husband dug through the debris field Wednesday that used to be their home, looking for family photos and other salvageable items. There wasn’t much left, she acknowledged. The reality of having her house destroyed in seconds hadn’t really set in.“If it weren’t for all the bumps and bruises and the achy bones, I would think that it didn’t happen,” Ergish said.This is a historically busy tornado season in the U.S., in an era when&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/climate-and-environment">climate change</a>&nbsp;is heightening the severity of storms around the world. April had the country's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/NWSSPC/status/1786147051090428273">second-highest number of tornadoes</a>&nbsp;on record.Through Tuesday, 859 tornadoes had been confirmed this year, 27% more than the U.S. sees on average, according to NOAA’s Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Iowa has so far recorded the most, with 81 confirmed twisters.On Tuesday alone, the National Weather Service said it received 23 tornado reports, with 21 in Iowa.Tuesday's storms also pummeled parts of Illinois and Wisconsin, knocking out power to tens of thousands of customers.The Greenfield tornado was at least an EF-3, according to initial surveys, and more damage assessments could lead to a more powerful ranking, the National Weather Service said.The tornado appeared to have been on the ground for more than 40 miles (64 kilometers), AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jon Porter said. A satellite photo taken by a BlackSky Technology shows where the twister gouged a nearly straight path of destruction through the town, just south of Greenfield’s center square.“Debris was lifted thousands of feet in the air and ended up falling to the ground several counties away from Greenfield. That’s evidence of just how intense and deadly this tornado was," Porter said.People as far as 100 miles (160 kilometers) away from Greenfield posted photos on Facebook of ripped family photos, yearbook pages and other items that were lifted into the sky by the tornado.About 90 miles (145 kilometers) away, in Ames, Iowa, Nicole Banner found a yellowed page declaring “This Book is the Property of the Greenfield Community School District” stuck to her garage door like a Post-It note after the storm passed.“We just couldn’t believe it had traveled that far,” she said.White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said FEMA’s administrator would be in Iowa Thursday and that the White House was in touch with state and local officials. She said they were “praying for those who tragically lost their lives” and wished those injured a “speedy recovery.”Greenfield's 25-bed hospital was among the buildings damaged, so at least a dozen injured people had to be taken elsewhere. Hospital officials said in a Facebook post Wednesday that they'll remain closed and full repairs could take months. Meanwhile, an urgent care clinic was set up at the elementary school, with primary care services to start there Thursday, the post said.Residential streets that on Monday were lined with old-growth trees and neatly-appointed ranch-style homes were a chaotic jumble of splintered and smashed remnants by Wednesday. Many basements where people took shelter were exposed, and front yards were littered with furniture and toys and Christmas decorations.Roseann Freeland waited until the last minute to rush with her husband to a concrete room in their basement. Seconds after the twister passed, her husband opened the door "and you could just see daylight,” Freeland said. “I just lost it. I just totally lost it.”___Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Steve Karnowski and Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; and Jim Salter in O'Fallon, Missouri, contributed.

Tornadoes killed 5, injured dozens in Iowa. Here’s what they found after the storm

NEW YORK (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that she will be voting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in the general election, a notable show of support given their intense and often personal rivalry during the Republican primary calendar.

But Haley also made it clear that she feels Trump has work to do to win over voters who supported her during the course of the primary campaign and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-presidential-primary-election-indiana-8b73a23568e054ce33163e2ca23b8fb3">continue to cast votes for her in ongoing primary contests</a>.

“I will be voting for Trump,” Haley, Trump’s former U.N. ambassador, said during an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington.

“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech,” Haley added. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”

The comments in her first public speech since leaving the race are another signal of the GOP’s virtually complete consolidation of support behind Trump, even from those who have labeled him a threat in the past.

Haley shuttered her own bid for the GOP nomination two months ago but did not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-republicans-trump-biden-donors-endorsement-ec63bee49d27a75145baba557acbd9cb">immediately endorse</a>&nbsp;Trump, having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-trump-2024-republican-south-carolina-e5cf13a535b2746c757c63e34f611dfa">accused him</a>&nbsp;of causing chaos and disregarding the importance of U.S. alliances abroad as well as questioning whether Trump, 77, was too old to be president again.

Trump, in turn, repeatedly mocked her with the nickname “Birdbrain," though he curtailed those attacks after securing enough delegates in March to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Haley's announcement.

President Joe Biden's campaign, meanwhile, has been working to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">win over her supporters</a>, whom they view as true swing voters. Biden’s team is quietly organizing a Republicans for Biden group, which will eventually include dedicated staff and focus on the hundreds of thousands of Haley voters in each battleground state, according to people familiar with the plans but not authorized to discuss them publicly.

But Haley made several criticisms of Biden's foreign policy and handling of the U.S.-Mexico border in her speech Wednesday at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank she recently joined as she reemerges in the political realm.

Earlier this month, Haley huddled in South Carolina with some of her donors, an event characterized as a “thank you” to her top supporters and not a discussion about Haley’s future political plans or intended to push her backers toward any other candidate.

If she runs for president again, Haley will likely need to win over former Trump supporters in a Republican primary. But her support for him now risks offending moderates and anti-Trump conservatives.

NEW YORK (AP) —<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/nikki-haley">Nikki Haley</a>&nbsp;said Wednesday that she will be voting for&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;in the general election, a notable show of support given their intense and often personal rivalry during the Republican primary calendar.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">&quot;Biden has been a catastrophe. So I will be voting for Trump.&quot; -- <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NikkiHaley</a> to <a href="https://twitter.com/HudsonInstitute?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HudsonInstitute</a> <a href="https://t.co/Y3HPFHMmGR">pic.twitter.com/Y3HPFHMmGR</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1793405487263764977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 22, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>But Haley also made it clear that she feels Trump has work to do to win over voters who supported her during the course of the primary campaign and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-presidential-primary-election-indiana-8b73a23568e054ce33163e2ca23b8fb3">continue to cast votes for her in ongoing primary contests</a>.“I will be voting for Trump,” Haley, Trump’s former U.N. ambassador, said during an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington.“Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech,” Haley added. "Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”The comments in her first public speech since leaving the race are another signal of the GOP’s virtually complete consolidation of support behind Trump, even from those who have labeled him a threat in the past.Haley shuttered her own bid for the GOP nomination two months ago but did not&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-republicans-trump-biden-donors-endorsement-ec63bee49d27a75145baba557acbd9cb">immediately endorse</a>&nbsp;Trump, having&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/haley-trump-2024-republican-south-carolina-e5cf13a535b2746c757c63e34f611dfa">accused him</a>&nbsp;of causing chaos and disregarding the importance of U.S. alliances abroad as well as questioning whether Trump, 77, was too old to be president again.Trump, in turn, repeatedly mocked her with the nickname “Birdbrain," though he curtailed those attacks after securing enough delegates in March to become the presumptive Republican nominee.Trump's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Haley's announcement.President Joe Biden's campaign, meanwhile, has been working to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nikki-haley-donald-trump-pennsylvania-joe-biden-c8ab4e675cfd2fa64d6b749b881c6fbd">win over her supporters</a>, whom they view as true swing voters. Biden’s team is quietly organizing a Republicans for Biden group, which will eventually include dedicated staff and focus on the hundreds of thousands of Haley voters in each battleground state, according to people familiar with the plans but not authorized to discuss them publicly.But Haley made several criticisms of Biden's foreign policy and handling of the U.S.-Mexico border in her speech Wednesday at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank she recently joined as she reemerges in the political realm.Earlier this month, Haley huddled in South Carolina with some of her donors, an event characterized as a “thank you” to her top supporters and not a discussion about Haley’s future political plans or intended to push her backers toward any other candidate.If she runs for president again, Haley will likely need to win over former Trump supporters in a Republican primary. But her support for him now risks offending moderates and anti-Trump conservatives.

🎥Nikki Haley explains why she will now vote for Donald Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) —A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.

The worker had been in contact with cows presumed to be infected, experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday. A nasal swab from the person tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab tested positive, “indicating an eye infection," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.

The risk to the public remains low, but farmworkers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, health officials said. They said those workers should be offered protective equipment, especially for their eyes.

The first case happened in late March, when a farmworker in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">was diagnosed</a>&nbsp;in what officials called the first known instance globally of a person catching this version of bird flu from a mammal. That patient also reported only eye inflammation and recovered.

Since 2020, a bird flu virus has been spreading among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">more animal species</a>&nbsp;— including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-bird-flu-deaths-oceans-80184a8793fbcc21fab01b1c90b0d71b">seals</a>&nbsp;and porpoises — in scores of countries. The detection&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-cattle-usda-kansas-texas-c3040bb31a9a8293717d47362f006902">in U.S. livestock</a>&nbsp;earlier this year was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371">unexpected twist</a>&nbsp;that sparked questions about food safety and whether it would start spreading among humans.

That hasn't happened, although there's been a steady increase of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">had been confirmed</a>&nbsp;in 51 dairy herds in nine states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Fifteen of the herds were in Michigan.

Health officials in Michigan have declined to say how many people exposed to infected cattle have been tested or monitored. U.S. officials said they had tested 40 people since the first cow cases were discovered in late March.

The CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officials for actively monitoring farmworkers. He said health officials there have been sending daily text messages to workers exposed to infected cows asking about possible symptoms, and that the effort helped officials catch this infection. He said no other workers had reported symptoms.

WASHINGTON (AP) —A Michigan dairy worker has been diagnosed with bird flu — the second human case associated with an outbreak in U.S. dairy cows.The worker had been in contact with cows presumed to be infected, experienced mild eye symptoms and has recovered, U.S. and Michigan health officials said in announcing the case Wednesday. A nasal swab from the person tested negative for the virus, but an eye swab tested positive, “indicating an eye infection," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.The risk to the public remains low, but farmworkers exposed to infected animals are at higher risk, health officials said. They said those workers should be offered protective equipment, especially for their eyes.The first case happened in late March, when a farmworker in Texas&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-texas-cows-355f1e288e72df8b81b0e2efd8b3ae2f">was diagnosed</a>&nbsp;in what officials called the first known instance globally of a person catching this version of bird flu from a mammal. That patient also reported only eye inflammation and recovered.Since 2020, a bird flu virus has been spreading among&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/disease-outbreaks-hong-kong-health-bird-flu-animals-75e5d058e0fda23b5359f66cafb74cdf">more animal species</a>&nbsp;— including dogs, cats, skunks, bears and even&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/seals-bird-flu-deaths-oceans-80184a8793fbcc21fab01b1c90b0d71b">seals</a>&nbsp;and porpoises — in scores of countries. The detection&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-cattle-usda-kansas-texas-c3040bb31a9a8293717d47362f006902">in U.S. livestock</a>&nbsp;earlier this year was an&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-dairy-farmers-barb-petersen-07bd5accb01441bc5d279464271d2371">unexpected twist</a>&nbsp;that sparked questions about food safety and whether it would start spreading among humans.That hasn't happened, although there's been a steady increase of reported infections in cows. As of Wednesday, the virus&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/livestock">had been confirmed</a>&nbsp;in 51 dairy herds in nine states, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Fifteen of the herds were in Michigan.Health officials in Michigan have declined to say how many people exposed to infected cattle have been tested or monitored. U.S. officials said they had tested 40 people since the first cow cases were discovered in late March.The CDC's Dr. Nirav Shah praised Michigan officials for actively monitoring farmworkers. He said health officials there have been sending daily text messages to workers exposed to infected cows asking about possible symptoms, and that the effort helped officials catch this infection. He said no other workers had reported symptoms.USDA is expanding financial incentives to dairy farmers whose herds have not yet been infected with the virus, Eric Deeble. a federal agriculture official, said Wednesday.The virus has been found in high levels in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/bird-flu-raw-milk-h5n1-6398d2eda26eb41797ee2700cf9d036b">raw milk</a>&nbsp;of infected cows, but government officials say pasteurized products sold in grocery stores are safe because heat treatment has been confirmed to kill the virus.The new case marks the third time a person in the United States has been diagnosed with what’s known as Type A H5N1 virus. In 2022, a prison inmate in a work program&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/business-health-environment-colorado-b98906e0a1899bb1f92da30a7b1dbe28">picked it up</a>&nbsp;while killing infected birds at a poultry farm in Montrose County, Colorado. His only symptom was fatigue, and he recovered. That predated the virus’s appearance in cows.