LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to Congressman Mike Flood’s introduction of a resolution condemning the United Nations (UN) Food Strategy released at the COP28:

“I appreciate Congressman Flood’s leadership on this very important issue. The United Nations’ radical attack on agriculture undermines the livelihoods of Nebraska farmers and ranchers, as well as those in other states where agriculture is an economic driver. Anti-agriculture activism damages the world’s food system and hurts the hungry. In Nebraska, our farmers and ranchers raise their products using sustainable methods, designed to protect the land and resources on which they rely. I urge the House of Representatives to pass Congressman Flood’s resolution, recognizing Nebraska’s collective role in feeding the world and saving the planet.”

A copy of Congressman Flood’s introduced resolution can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fscl%2Ffi%2Fdxie2vqo1wc41sq7p8dd4%2FFLOOD_Meat-Resolution.pdf%3Frlkey%3Dylnjpjbv5htf411ps9n37jbwk%26dl%3D0&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C933812dd9d45494e766a08dbfab33902%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638379419894590556%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ydDH6HUFJ1iXz8QaOXDZ2RFpSKOvSQnVZw6szm3No1U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>. A copy of the Food &amp; Agriculture Organization report released over the weekend at COP28 can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fao.org%2Finteractive%2Fsdg2-roadmap%2Fassets%2F3d-models%2Finbrief-roadmap.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C933812dd9d45494e766a08dbfab33902%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638379419894590556%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=dgWaZfs%2BK0qCL2Y%2FWG4ChcxnRY65kWzpcTyhYuXW%2F5g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>.

LINCOLN, NE&nbsp;– Governor Jim Pillen issued the following statement in response to Congressman Mike Flood’s introduction of a resolution condemning the United Nations (UN) Food Strategy released at the COP28:“I appreciate Congressman Flood’s leadership on this very important issue. The United Nations’ radical attack on agriculture undermines the livelihoods of Nebraska farmers and ranchers, as well as those in other states where agriculture is an economic driver. Anti-agriculture activism damages the world’s food system and hurts the hungry. In Nebraska, our farmers and ranchers raise their products using sustainable methods, designed to protect the land and resources on which they rely. I urge the House of Representatives to pass Congressman Flood’s resolution, recognizing Nebraska’s collective role in feeding the world and saving the planet.”A copy of Congressman Flood’s introduced resolution can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dropbox.com%2Fscl%2Ffi%2Fdxie2vqo1wc41sq7p8dd4%2FFLOOD_Meat-Resolution.pdf%3Frlkey%3Dylnjpjbv5htf411ps9n37jbwk%26dl%3D0&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C933812dd9d45494e766a08dbfab33902%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638379419894590556%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=ydDH6HUFJ1iXz8QaOXDZ2RFpSKOvSQnVZw6szm3No1U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>. A copy of the Food &amp; Agriculture Organization report released over the weekend at COP28 can be found&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fao.org%2Finteractive%2Fsdg2-roadmap%2Fassets%2F3d-models%2Finbrief-roadmap.pdf&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ccio.webmstr%40nebraska.gov%7C933812dd9d45494e766a08dbfab33902%7C043207dfe6894bf6902001038f11f0b1%7C0%7C0%7C638379419894590556%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=dgWaZfs%2BK0qCL2Y%2FWG4ChcxnRY65kWzpcTyhYuXW%2F5g%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">here</a>.

Governor Pillen Statement in Response to the United Nations Food Strategy 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A pregnant Texas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition left the state to get an abortion elsewhere before the state Supreme Court on Monday rejected her unprecedented challenge of one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.

Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, had spent nearly a week seeking court permission in Texas to end her pregnancy, but her attorneys said she could not wait any longer and left the state. Her baby has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has low survival rates, and her lawsuit argued that continuing the pregnancy jeopardized both her health and ability to have more children.

Texas’ abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox had not shown that any of the complications in her pregnancy rose to the level of threatening her life.

“Her health is on the line. She’s been in and out of the emergency room and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-care-wait-times-us-roe-dobbs-7b0a328bb34b0acb3d37e359a63712fc">she couldn’t wait any longer,”</a>&nbsp;said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.

The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she would have been 20 weeks and six days pregnant.

Hours after Cox's attorneys announced she had left Texas, the state Supreme Court issued its decision that ruled against Cox. It came three days after the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-decision-10767891a475e7ce2c82b1404450908a#:~:text=AUSTIN%2C%20Texas%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,restrictive%20bans%20in%20the%20U.S.">temporarily halted</a>&nbsp;a lower judge's ruling that gave Cox permission to get an abortion.

"No one disputes that Ms. Cox’s pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn child’s trisomy 18 diagnosis," the court wrote. “Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses.”

Cox, who lives in the Dallas area, was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.</a>&nbsp;Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.

Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-kentucky-aclu-lawsuit-14df6d5e8a5aaa36009557d080b1c779">asked a court to allow an abortion.</a>&nbsp;There has been no ruling yet in that case.

In Texas, Paxton mounted an aggressive defense to try to prevent Cox from having an abortion. He sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequences — both criminal and civil — if they allowed Cox's physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms.

Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections, and that another one at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short.

“Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Cox’s condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live,” Paxton's office told the court in a filing over the weekend.

Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Colorado and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said when lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed “there’s only risk to that pregnant person and no benefit unfortunately for that innocent child.”

“You are putting your body through risks without any benefit because prolonging the pregnancy doesn’t change the survival rate,” Zahedi-Spung said.

Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which is when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 18. The diagnosis has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rate. Doctors told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.

Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to a legal filing that the two groups submitted to the court.

The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often-fatal medical problems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ending-pregnancies-over-grave-medical-problems-e504e595f5f4ea6139db3f7b5155ca85">is seldom discussed</a>&nbsp;in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say it’s a small percentage of total procedures.

Texas has long been at the forefront of strict abortion laws in the U.S., and even now, there are ongoing efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-travel-ban-roads-west-texas-3997304c4156f131ee90bb1363735ba3">make it harder for pregnant women to leave Texas</a>&nbsp;for states where the procedure is legal. This year, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the bans do not apply to helping women get abortions out of state.

Under Texas’ bans, doctors who provide an abortion can face criminal charges that carry punishments of up to life in prison. They could also face lawsuits from private citizens, who are empowered to sue a person who helps a woman obtain an abortion, such as the doctor’s staff. The laws do not threaten the mother with any legal consequences.

Dr. Christina Bourne, medical director for abortion provider Trust Women, which provides abortion care in Wichita, Kansas, and also has a clinic in Oklahoma City, said that whether someone’s life is at risk can be subjective.

Doctors are now operating in a confusing atmosphere, Bourne said,

“If you are a pregnant person in a legally restrictive state, I am concerned about your health outcomes,” she said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702131734401.png" alt="Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights" />
 <figcaption>Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A pregnant Texas woman whose fetus has a fatal condition left the state to get an abortion elsewhere before the state Supreme Court on Monday rejected her unprecedented challenge of one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S.Kate Cox, a 31-year-old mother of two, had spent nearly a week seeking court permission in Texas to end her pregnancy, but her attorneys said she could not wait any longer and left the state. Her baby has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has low survival rates, and her lawsuit argued that continuing the pregnancy jeopardized both her health and ability to have more children.Texas’ abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies. Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that Cox had not shown that any of the complications in her pregnancy rose to the level of threatening her life.“Her health is on the line. She’s been in and out of the emergency room and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-care-wait-times-us-roe-dobbs-7b0a328bb34b0acb3d37e359a63712fc">she couldn’t wait any longer,”</a>&nbsp;said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she would have been 20 weeks and six days pregnant.Hours after Cox's attorneys announced she had left Texas, the state Supreme Court issued its decision that ruled against Cox. It came three days after the court&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-decision-10767891a475e7ce2c82b1404450908a#:~:text=AUSTIN%2C%20Texas%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94,restrictive%20bans%20in%20the%20U.S.">temporarily halted</a>&nbsp;a lower judge's ruling that gave Cox permission to get an abortion."No one disputes that Ms. Cox’s pregnancy has been extremely complicated. Any parents would be devastated to learn of their unborn child’s trisomy 18 diagnosis," the court wrote. “Some difficulties in pregnancy, however, even serious ones, do not pose the heightened risks to the mother the exception encompasses.”Cox, who lives in the Dallas area, was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.</a>&nbsp;Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-kentucky-aclu-lawsuit-14df6d5e8a5aaa36009557d080b1c779">asked a court to allow an abortion.</a>&nbsp;There has been no ruling yet in that case.In Texas, Paxton mounted an aggressive defense to try to prevent Cox from having an abortion. He sent three Houston hospitals letters warning of legal consequences — both criminal and civil — if they allowed Cox's physician to provide the procedure. He also argued that Cox had not demonstrated that her life was at imminent risk, including noting that she was sent home after her multiple visits to emergency rooms.Cox had cesarean surgeries during her first two pregnancies. Her lawsuit argued that inducing labor would carry a risk of a uterine rupture because of her prior C-sections, and that another one at full term would would endanger her ability to carry another child. But Paxton contended those arguments still fell short.“Rather, the only question is whether Ms. Cox’s condition meets the exception, regardless of how long the child is expected to live,” Paxton's office told the court in a filing over the weekend.Dr. Leilah Zahedi-Spung, a maternal fetal medicine specialist in Colorado and a fellow with Physicians for Reproductive Health, said when lethal fetal anomalies are diagnosed “there’s only risk to that pregnant person and no benefit unfortunately for that innocent child.”“You are putting your body through risks without any benefit because prolonging the pregnancy doesn’t change the survival rate,” Zahedi-Spung said.Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which is when a baby has an extra copy of chromosome 18. The diagnosis has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rate. Doctors told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to a legal filing that the two groups submitted to the court.The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often-fatal medical problems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ending-pregnancies-over-grave-medical-problems-e504e595f5f4ea6139db3f7b5155ca85">is seldom discussed</a>&nbsp;in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say it’s a small percentage of total procedures.Texas has long been at the forefront of strict abortion laws in the U.S., and even now, there are ongoing efforts to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-travel-ban-roads-west-texas-3997304c4156f131ee90bb1363735ba3">make it harder for pregnant women to leave Texas</a>&nbsp;for states where the procedure is legal. This year, a federal judge in Texas ruled that the bans do not apply to helping women get abortions out of state.Under Texas’ bans, doctors who provide an abortion can face criminal charges that carry punishments of up to life in prison. They could also face lawsuits from private citizens, who are empowered to sue a person who helps a woman obtain an abortion, such as the doctor’s staff. The laws do not threaten the mother with any legal consequences.Dr. Christina Bourne, medical director for abortion provider Trust Women, which provides abortion care in Wichita, Kansas, and also has a clinic in Oklahoma City, said that whether someone’s life is at risk can be subjective.Doctors are now operating in a confusing atmosphere, Bourne said,“If you are a pregnant person in a legally restrictive state, I am concerned about your health outcomes,” she said.

Court rules against first woman to seek court-approved abortion in 50 years

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/11/nifa-warns-of-scams-associated-with-nebraskas-emergency-rent-aid-program/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN — Nebraskans are being warned of scam artists using social media platforms to purportedly help applicants get emergency rental assistance.

The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, which is currently managing the federally funded ERA program for the State of Nebraska, is alerting people to be cautious of fake website links and fraudulent offers related to the program.

One Facebook post, for example, asks for personal information as well as a fee to help get rental aid applications approved.

Nebraskans who have been contacted by a company or person requesting a fee for an application or claiming they can send funds directly to the applicant are encouraged to report such fraud at NebraskaRentHelp.org/report-fraud.

Applications and additional information about eligibility requirements can be found at NebraskaRentHelp.org.

Robin Ambroz, NIFA spokeswoman, told the Nebraska Examiner that she is unaware of anyone in Nebraska who has been taken advantage of or fallen prey to such offers. But she said NIFA has seen suspicious social media activity and felt compelled to be proactive. It has issued guidance to avoid scams.

The NIFA-managed Nebraska ERA program provides help for past-due rent, utility and internet payments to income-qualified Nebraskans outside of Douglas and Lancaster Counties who experienced financial hardship during the pandemic.

(Because of their size, Douglas and Lancaster Counties applied for their own federally funded emergency rental assistance programs. Other entities manage those programs, while NIFA administers ERA for the state’s 91 smaller and more rural counties.)

To qualify for the emergency rental assistance, applicants must have experienced a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic; have an income at or below 80% of the area median income; rent their primary home in Nebraska; and be a legal resident.

The funds NIFA is now distributing is the State of Nebraska’s second batch of emergency rent and utility aid. That funding had become weighted in controversy as then-Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to tap ERA II dollars that the federal government had set aside for the 91 counties. Ricketts at that time said the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a “welfare state.”

Gov. Jim Pillen bucked his predecessor’s stance and ended up accepting what was left of that $120 million second tranche, about $48 million.

NIFA, at the end of September, began accepting renter applications for that allotment. Since then, Ambroz said, about&nbsp;$587,000 in assistance has been paid out.&nbsp;

Cindy Gonzalez<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/11/nifa-warns-of-scams-associated-with-nebraskas-emergency-rent-aid-program/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN — Nebraskans are being warned of scam artists using social media platforms to purportedly help applicants get emergency rental assistance.The Nebraska Investment Finance Authority, which is currently managing the federally funded ERA program for the State of Nebraska, is alerting people to be cautious of fake website links and fraudulent offers related to the program.One Facebook post, for example, asks for personal information as well as a fee to help get rental aid applications approved.<h2>Suspicious activity</h2>Nebraskans who have been contacted by a company or person requesting a fee for an application or claiming they can send funds directly to the applicant are encouraged to report such fraud at NebraskaRentHelp.org/report-fraud.Applications and additional information about eligibility requirements can be found at NebraskaRentHelp.org.Robin Ambroz, NIFA spokeswoman, told the Nebraska Examiner that she is unaware of anyone in Nebraska who has been taken advantage of or fallen prey to such offers. But she said NIFA has seen suspicious social media activity and felt compelled to be proactive. It has issued guidance to avoid scams.The NIFA-managed Nebraska ERA program provides help for past-due rent, utility and internet payments to income-qualified Nebraskans outside of Douglas and Lancaster Counties who experienced financial hardship during the pandemic.(Because of their size, Douglas and Lancaster Counties applied for their own federally funded emergency rental assistance programs. Other entities manage those programs, while NIFA administers ERA for the state’s 91 smaller and more rural counties.)<h2>Tips and guidance offered by NIFA:</h2><ul>
 <li>The only authentic way to apply for the program is online at NebraskaRentHelp.org, in person at a local Community Collaborative or by phone at 1-844-429-6575.</li><li>Only officials with the Nebraska ERA program can determine an applicant’s eligibility for rental and utility assistance. Applicants who are approved for assistance will be notified by email.</li><li>There is no fee to apply or to receive application help from the call center or Community Collaboratives.</li><li>Applicants will never be asked for their personal information through a social media message.</li><li>Funds will be sent directly to landlords or utility providers.</li>
 </ul>To qualify for the emergency rental assistance, applicants must have experienced a financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic; have an income at or below 80% of the area median income; rent their primary home in Nebraska; and be a legal resident.The funds NIFA is now distributing is the State of Nebraska’s second batch of emergency rent and utility aid. That funding had become weighted in controversy as then-Gov. Pete Ricketts refused to tap ERA II dollars that the federal government had set aside for the 91 counties. Ricketts at that time said the pandemic was over and that Nebraska should guard against becoming a “welfare state.”Gov. Jim Pillen bucked his predecessor’s stance and ended up accepting what was left of that $120 million second tranche, about $48 million.NIFA, at the end of September, began accepting renter applications for that allotment. Since then, Ambroz said, about&nbsp;$587,000 in assistance has been paid out.&nbsp;

NIFA warns of scams associated with Nebraska’s emergency rent aid program

LINCOLN— A Nebraska State Trooper has begun his recovery after being injured Monday when a suspect rammed his patrol vehicle during a pursuit between Lincoln and Omaha, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.

The trooper suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He has undergone successful surgery at Bryan Medical Center West Campus. A long recovery lies ahead, but he is alert and in good spirits this morning.

The suspect, an 18-year-old from La Vista, was not injured in the crash. He refused medical treatment at the scene and was lodged in Lancaster County Jail for assault on an officer, assault on an officer using a motor vehicle, willful reckless driving, and flight to avoid arrest.

&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after a pursuit, during which the suspect rammed his vehicle into an NSP cruiser and injured a trooper.

At approximately 12:40 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed a Ford Fusion traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 in Lincoln, near mile marker 403. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and fled westbound. The trooper initiated a pursuit.

During the pursuit, the driver passed numerous vehicles on the shoulder and continued westbound at speeds above 100 miles per hour. When the vehicle reached the Milford interchange, at mile marker 382, it exited and reentered I-80 traveling eastbound toward Lincoln.

The NSP AirWing took over the pursuit from the air as the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the Lincoln area. After passing through Lincoln, patrol units continued their pursuit on the ground. At approximately 1:15 p.m. the suspect rammed a trooper’s patrol vehicle, causing both vehicles to roll near mile marker 422. The trooper’s cruiser came to rest in the median. The suspect’s vehicle crossed the westbound lanes and came to rest in the north ditch.

The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The trooper has been transported to Bryan Medical Center West Campus with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect refused medical treatment at the scene and has been transported to Lancaster County Jail. Charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing.

Interstate 80 was closed for both directions of travel for approximately 75 minutes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702405737769.png" alt="Photo Nebraska State Patrol" />
 <figcaption>Photo Nebraska State Patrol</figcaption>
 </figure>LINCOLN— A Nebraska State Trooper has begun his recovery after being injured Monday when a suspect rammed his patrol vehicle during a pursuit between Lincoln and Omaha, according to a media release from the Nebraska State Patrol.The trooper suffered serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. He has undergone successful surgery at Bryan Medical Center West Campus. A long recovery lies ahead, but he is alert and in good spirits this morning.The suspect, an 18-year-old from La Vista, was not injured in the crash. He refused medical treatment at the scene and was lodged in Lancaster County Jail for assault on an officer, assault on an officer using a motor vehicle, willful reckless driving, and flight to avoid arrest.Original press release&nbsp;(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol have arrested one person after a pursuit, during which the suspect rammed his vehicle into an NSP cruiser and injured a trooper.At approximately 12:40 p.m. Monday, a trooper observed a Ford Fusion traveling in excess of 100 miles per hour on Interstate 80 in Lincoln, near mile marker 403. The trooper attempted a traffic stop, but the driver refused to yield and fled westbound. The trooper initiated a pursuit.During the pursuit, the driver passed numerous vehicles on the shoulder and continued westbound at speeds above 100 miles per hour. When the vehicle reached the Milford interchange, at mile marker 382, it exited and reentered I-80 traveling eastbound toward Lincoln.The NSP AirWing took over the pursuit from the air as the vehicle continued at a high rate of speed through the Lincoln area. After passing through Lincoln, patrol units continued their pursuit on the ground. At approximately 1:15 p.m. the suspect rammed a trooper’s patrol vehicle, causing both vehicles to roll near mile marker 422. The trooper’s cruiser came to rest in the median. The suspect’s vehicle crossed the westbound lanes and came to rest in the north ditch.The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. The trooper has been transported to Bryan Medical Center West Campus with non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect refused medical treatment at the scene and has been transported to Lancaster County Jail. Charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing.Interstate 80 was closed for both directions of travel for approximately 75 minutes.

Update: Trooper Recovering, Suspect Charged with Assault on an Officer

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard President Claudine Gay will remain leader of the prestigious Ivy League school following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivy-league-presidents-backlash-women-021ec60af6a5a5279c644376de065738">her comments last week</a>&nbsp;at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, the university's highest governing body announced Tuesday.

“Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” the Harvard Corporation said in a statement following its meeting Monday night.

Only months into her leadership, Gay came under intense scrutiny following the hearing in which she and two of her peers struggled to answer questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-hamas-college-protest-tulane-29dca6e670639b73f5bfe7bfcf6befee">campus antisemitism</a>. Their academic responses provoked a backlash from Republican opponents, along with alumni and donors who say the university leaders are failing to stand up for Jewish students on their campuses.

Some lawmakers and donors to the the university called for Gay to step down, following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-governor-antisemitism-colleges-israel-gaza-ae1294d644b3305cc51e8d9bb7252766">the resignation of Liz Magill</a>&nbsp;as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.

The Harvard Crimson student newspaper first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/12/12/gay-stays-in-office-corporation-support/">reported Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that Gay, who became Harvard’s first Black president in July, will remain in office with the support of the Harvard Corporation following the conclusion of the board’s meeting. It cited an unnamed source familiar with the decision.

A petition signed by more than 600 faculty members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-penn-mit-antisemitism-ivy-league-aff2c8e58088654953cac9c334170444">asked the school's governing body</a>&nbsp;to keep Gay in charge.

“So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack, and the university's initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation,” the corporation's statement said. “Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the university's fight against antisemitism."

In an interview with The Crimson last week, Gay said she got caught up in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-backlash-2c89312cdd0d2652a9b57ce71f1533fd">a heated exchange at the House committee hearing</a>&nbsp;and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.

“What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,” Gay said.

Testimony from Gay and Magill drew intense national backlash, as have similar responses from the president of MIT, who also testified before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee.

The corporation also addressed allegations of plagiarism against Gay, saying that Harvard became aware of them in late October regarding three articles she had written. It initiated an independent review at Gay's request.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Harvard President Claudine Gay will remain leader of the prestigious Ivy League school following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/ivy-league-presidents-backlash-women-021ec60af6a5a5279c644376de065738">her comments last week</a>&nbsp;at a congressional hearing on antisemitism, the university's highest governing body announced Tuesday.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill resigned Saturday after facing backlash from her congressional testimony earlier this week on antisemitism on college campuses. Here&#39;s the exchange. <a href="https://t.co/EVrAMy33qh">pic.twitter.com/EVrAMy33qh</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1733607598803292487?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 9, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“Our extensive deliberations affirm our confidence that President Gay is the right leader to help our community heal and to address the very serious societal issues we are facing,” the Harvard Corporation said in a statement following its meeting Monday night.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702390765330.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Only months into her leadership, Gay came under intense scrutiny following the hearing in which she and two of her peers struggled to answer questions about&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinian-hamas-college-protest-tulane-29dca6e670639b73f5bfe7bfcf6befee">campus antisemitism</a>. Their academic responses provoked a backlash from Republican opponents, along with alumni and donors who say the university leaders are failing to stand up for Jewish students on their campuses.Some lawmakers and donors to the the university called for Gay to step down, following&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-york-governor-antisemitism-colleges-israel-gaza-ae1294d644b3305cc51e8d9bb7252766">the resignation of Liz Magill</a>&nbsp;as president of the University of Pennsylvania on Saturday.The Harvard Crimson student newspaper first&nbsp;<a href="https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2023/12/12/gay-stays-in-office-corporation-support/">reported Tuesday</a>&nbsp;that Gay, who became Harvard’s first Black president in July, will remain in office with the support of the Harvard Corporation following the conclusion of the board’s meeting. It cited an unnamed source familiar with the decision.A petition signed by more than 600 faculty members&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-penn-mit-antisemitism-ivy-league-aff2c8e58088654953cac9c334170444">asked the school's governing body</a>&nbsp;to keep Gay in charge.“So many people have suffered tremendous damage and pain because of Hamas's brutal terrorist attack, and the university's initial statement should have been an immediate, direct, and unequivocal condemnation,” the corporation's statement said. “Calls for genocide are despicable and contrary to fundamental human values. President Gay has apologized for how she handled her congressional testimony and has committed to redoubling the university's fight against antisemitism."In an interview with The Crimson last week, Gay said she got caught up in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/harvard-mit-penn-campus-antisemitism-backlash-2c89312cdd0d2652a9b57ce71f1533fd">a heated exchange at the House committee hearing</a>&nbsp;and failed to properly denounce threats of violence against Jewish students.“What I should have had the presence of mind to do in that moment was return to my guiding truth, which is that calls for violence against our Jewish community — threats to our Jewish students — have no place at Harvard, and will never go unchallenged,” Gay said.Testimony from Gay and Magill drew intense national backlash, as have similar responses from the president of MIT, who also testified before the Republican-led House Education and Workforce Committee.The corporation also addressed allegations of plagiarism against Gay, saying that Harvard became aware of them in late October regarding three articles she had written. It initiated an independent review at Gay's request.

🎥Why Harvard won't fire president following antisemitism testimony

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.

The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships</a>&nbsp;close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Houthi</a>&nbsp;military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it “rejected all warning calls.”

The U.S. military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strinda.

“There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded … and is currently rendering assistance,” Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.

The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda's operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.

“All crew members are unhurt and safe,” Belsnes said. “The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.”

The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press.

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-israeli-houthi-gaza-war-3e48ff43f1225ccd98c9a56929fb8f57">missiles targeting Israel</a>. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.

Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them “some time” to organize a response. But he said if the threats persist, “we will act to remove this blockade.”

Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-saudi-rebels-exchange-537ea06a0ecbf90d57ede80a50aacd6e">years of civil war in Yemen</a>&nbsp;between it and Saudi-backed forces.

France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">brief pause in fighting</a>&nbsp;during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it.

In November, Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government has held for months despite that country's long war. That's raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea — or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces — could reignite those tensions in the Arab world's poorest nation.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/red-sea-houthi-yemen-ships-attack-israel-hamas-war-gaza-strip-716770f0a780160e9abed98d3c48fbde">Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships</a>&nbsp;close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel. That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the Israel-Hamas war now raging in the Gaza Strip.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-attacks-iran-ships-retaliation-15d10ed74c7f3cc7fd36fa0f77f73e54">Houthi</a>&nbsp;military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it “rejected all warning calls.”The U.S. military's Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strinda.“There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded … and is currently rendering assistance,” Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda's operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.“All crew members are unhurt and safe,” Belsnes said. “The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.”The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe. The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press.The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-israeli-houthi-gaza-war-3e48ff43f1225ccd98c9a56929fb8f57">missiles targeting Israel</a>. In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them “some time” to organize a response. But he said if the threats persist, “we will act to remove this blockade.”Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/yemen-houthi-saudi-rebels-exchange-537ea06a0ecbf90d57ede80a50aacd6e">years of civil war in Yemen</a>&nbsp;between it and Saudi-backed forces.France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war</a>&nbsp;threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even during a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">brief pause in fighting</a>&nbsp;during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and airstrikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29 kilometers (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10% of all oil traded at sea passes through it.In November, Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.A separate, tentative cease-fire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen's exiled government has held for months despite that country's long war. That's raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea — or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces — could reignite those tensions in the Arab world's poorest nation.

U.S. destroyer responds after missile hits tanker in Red Sea 

WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b">Special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;on Monday asked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.

<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-624/292946/20231211115417267_No.%2023-624%20U.S.%20v.%20Donald%20J.%20Trump%20Petition.pdf">Click here to read</a> the petition before the Supreme Court

Smith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">the trial</a>&nbsp;of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin March 4, until after next year’s presidential election.

Later Monday, the justices indicated they would decide quickly whether to hear the case, ordering Trump's lawyers to respond by Dec. 20. The court's brief order did not signal what it ultimately would do.

A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump said he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court, the usual next step in the process, and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly.

“This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">has been impeached</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-riots-trials-impeachments-b245b52fd7d4a079ae199c954baba452">not convicted</a>&nbsp;before the criminal proceedings begin,” prosecutors wrote.

Trump's presidential campaign criticized Smith for trying to go around the appeals court. “There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters. President Trump will continue to fight for Justice and oppose these authoritarian tactics,” the campaign said in a statement.

The court is next scheduled to meet privately on Jan. 5, 2024. It's unclear whether the justices would convene sooner to take up Smith's request.

Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, Smith and his team wrote: “It is of imperative public importance that respondent’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-9528a29b2dbebb6ee4a4ebd26780f98c">claims of immunity</a>&nbsp;be resolved by this Court and that respondent’s trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected.”

At issue is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">a Dec. 1 ruling</a>&nbsp;from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote that the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”

“Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability,” Chutkan wrote. “Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office."

If the justices get involved, they would have an opportunity to rule for the first time ever on whether ex-presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Justice Department policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. Though there’s no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president — a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected.

Smith’s team stressed that if the court did not expedite the matter, there would not be an opportunity to consider and resolve the question in the current term.

“The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case,” prosecutors wrote. “The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.”

Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trump’s claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">already impeached</a>&nbsp;— and acquitted — before Congress.

Trump faces charges accusing him of working&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-hearings-trump-capitol-10351fe6d555eaee7554379ceed8bb24">to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden before the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">violent riot</a>&nbsp;by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. He has denied any wrongdoing.

A Supreme Court case usually lasts several months, from the time the justices agree to hear it until a final decision. Smith is asking the court to move with unusual, but not unprecedented, speed.

Nearly 50 years ago, the justices acted within two months of being asked to force President Richard Nixon to turn over Oval Office recordings in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-dean-richard-nixon-government-and-politics-crime-c7a7b99cca7c685cfc239f5e08b53378">the Watergate scandal</a>. The tapes were then used later in 1974 in the corruption prosecutions of Nixon's former aides.

It took the high court just a few days to effectively decide the 2000 presidential election for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

If the justices decline to step in at this point, Trump's appeal would continue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Smith already has asked for quick review there, too. But he said even a rapid appellate decision might not get to the Supreme Court in time for review and final word before the court's traditional summer break.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702331469560.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b">Special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;on Monday asked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/23/23-624/292946/20231211115417267_No.%2023-624%20U.S.%20v.%20Donald%20J.%20Trump%20Petition.pdf">Click here to read</a> the petition before the Supreme CourtSmith made his request for the court to act with unusual speed to prevent any delays that could push back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">the trial</a>&nbsp;of the 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, currently set to begin March 4, until after next year’s presidential election.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702338990290.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Later Monday, the justices indicated they would decide quickly whether to hear the case, ordering Trump's lawyers to respond by Dec. 20. The court's brief order did not signal what it ultimately would do.A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump said he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome. Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court, the usual next step in the process, and have the Supreme Court take up the matter directly.“This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">has been impeached</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-riots-trials-impeachments-b245b52fd7d4a079ae199c954baba452">not convicted</a>&nbsp;before the criminal proceedings begin,” prosecutors wrote.Trump's presidential campaign criticized Smith for trying to go around the appeals court. “There is absolutely no reason to rush this sham to trial except to injure President Trump and tens of millions of his supporters. President Trump will continue to fight for Justice and oppose these authoritarian tactics,” the campaign said in a statement.The court is next scheduled to meet privately on Jan. 5, 2024. It's unclear whether the justices would convene sooner to take up Smith's request.Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, Smith and his team wrote: “It is of imperative public importance that respondent’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-9528a29b2dbebb6ee4a4ebd26780f98c">claims of immunity</a>&nbsp;be resolved by this Court and that respondent’s trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected.”At issue is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">a Dec. 1 ruling</a>&nbsp;from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote that the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”“Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability,” Chutkan wrote. “Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office."If the justices get involved, they would have an opportunity to rule for the first time ever on whether ex-presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Justice Department policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. Though there’s no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president — a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected.Smith’s team stressed that if the court did not expedite the matter, there would not be an opportunity to consider and resolve the question in the current term.“The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case,” prosecutors wrote. “The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.”Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trump’s claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">already impeached</a>&nbsp;— and acquitted — before Congress.Trump faces charges accusing him of working&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-hearings-trump-capitol-10351fe6d555eaee7554379ceed8bb24">to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden before the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">violent riot</a>&nbsp;by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. He has denied any wrongdoing.A Supreme Court case usually lasts several months, from the time the justices agree to hear it until a final decision. Smith is asking the court to move with unusual, but not unprecedented, speed.Nearly 50 years ago, the justices acted within two months of being asked to force President Richard Nixon to turn over Oval Office recordings in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-dean-richard-nixon-government-and-politics-crime-c7a7b99cca7c685cfc239f5e08b53378">the Watergate scandal</a>. The tapes were then used later in 1974 in the corruption prosecutions of Nixon's former aides.It took the high court just a few days to effectively decide the 2000 presidential election for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.If the justices decline to step in at this point, Trump's appeal would continue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Smith already has asked for quick review there, too. But he said even a rapid appellate decision might not get to the Supreme Court in time for review and final word before the court's traditional summer break.

Trump responds to Supreme Court decision to rule on his immunity claim

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-us-emergency-sale-tank-ammunition-war-d3e9b41528433f2da9814d3293996cd5">defended the emergency sale</a>&nbsp;to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition and also called for quick congressional approval of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">$100 billion in aid</a>&nbsp;for Israel, Ukraine and other national security priorities.

Blinken said the needs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s military operations in Gaza</a>&nbsp;justify the rare decision to bypass Congress. “Israel is in combat right now with Hamas,” he said during television interviews on Sunday. “And we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Hamas.”

The tank ammunition and related support constitute only a small portion of military sales to Israel and the rest remains subject to congressional review, Blinken said. “It’s very important that Congress‘ voice be heard in this,” he said.

The decision to proceed with the sale of more than $106 million in tank shells came as the Biden administration’s larger aid package is caught up in a debate over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-ukraine-6bdcc5dde4dadb48b43ace75b5a55242">U.S. immigration policy and border security.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702300715756.png" alt="U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting with Israel President Isaac Herzog in November.-courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during a meeting with Israel President Isaac Herzog in November.-courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-us-emergency-sale-tank-ammunition-war-d3e9b41528433f2da9814d3293996cd5">defended the emergency sale</a>&nbsp;to Israel of nearly 14,000 rounds of tank ammunition and also called for quick congressional approval of more than&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-ukraine-israel-budget-3762a0bdf00653e3c8a38175d3c3d3cb">$100 billion in aid</a>&nbsp;for Israel, Ukraine and other national security priorities.Blinken said the needs of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel’s military operations in Gaza</a>&nbsp;justify the rare decision to bypass Congress. “Israel is in combat right now with Hamas,” he said during television interviews on Sunday. “And we want to make sure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself against Hamas.”The tank ammunition and related support constitute only a small portion of military sales to Israel and the rest remains subject to congressional review, Blinken said. “It’s very important that Congress‘ voice be heard in this,” he said.The decision to proceed with the sale of more than $106 million in tank shells came as the Biden administration’s larger aid package is caught up in a debate over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-immigration-ukraine-6bdcc5dde4dadb48b43ace75b5a55242">U.S. immigration policy and border security.</a>

Biden ammunition sale to Israel did not have Congressional approval

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/priest-catholic-nebraska-attack-archdiocese-eb7a0cba27d5c11ca075f0ba479ce5a6">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a Catholic priest inside the church rectory where he lived has shocked members of the small eastern Nebraska parish he led for the past 11 years.

The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was attacked during a break-in early Sunday morning, and the 65-year-old died despite being rushed to a nearby hospital. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspected burglar in the rectory of St. John the Baptist church when they arrived six minutes after the priest called 911.

“A lot of people learned about death of Father Gutsgell when they showed up for Mass and found the church circled with police crime tape,” church deacon Jerry Mapes told the&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/archbishop-holds-special-mass-for-parishioners-grieving-death-of-fort-calhoun-priest/article_716a0430-9821-11ee-8626-bba369787fed.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;on Monday.

On Sunday evening, the congregation held a vigil at the church in Fort Calhoun, a city of about 1,000 residents that's 20 minutes north of Omaha.

Kelly Tegels said she had just seen Gutgsell at Mass on Saturday night, so his death didn’t feel real yet. Services were cancelled in Fort Calhoun Sunday morning, but Archbishop George Lucas met with parishioners to console them after leading a special Mass at a nearby church in Blair with a message of hope and love.

“It’s going to be hard. I’m bringing flowers tonight because he always had this altar decorated with flowers, and I know he would appreciate it,” Tegels said at the vigil. She has been attending the church of about 250 families for three decades.

Everett Kingrey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/fort-calhoun-community-mourns-priest-murdered-early-sunday/46086763">told KETV</a>&nbsp;that the priest’s death was “a real gut punch.”

“Something you don’t expect. Especially here in a small town, but you know, terrible,” Kingrey said.

Deputies arrested Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux City, Iowa. He may not make his initial court appearance until Tuesday to face homicide and weapons charges, so he doesn't yet have a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Prosecutors didn't immediately respond to a message Monday about when formal charges will be filed.

The Archdiocese of Omaha asked for prayers in a statement Sunday about the “invasion at the rectory of St. John the Baptist parish in Fort Calhoun.”

FORT CALHOUN, Neb. (AP) — The&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/priest-catholic-nebraska-attack-archdiocese-eb7a0cba27d5c11ca075f0ba479ce5a6">fatal stabbing</a>&nbsp;of a Catholic priest inside the church rectory where he lived has shocked members of the small eastern Nebraska parish he led for the past 11 years.The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was attacked during a break-in early Sunday morning, and the 65-year-old died despite being rushed to a nearby hospital. Washington County Sheriff’s deputies arrested a suspected burglar in the rectory of St. John the Baptist church when they arrived six minutes after the priest called 911.“A lot of people learned about death of Father Gutsgell when they showed up for Mass and found the church circled with police crime tape,” church deacon Jerry Mapes told the&nbsp;<a href="https://omaha.com/news/local/crime-courts/archbishop-holds-special-mass-for-parishioners-grieving-death-of-fort-calhoun-priest/article_716a0430-9821-11ee-8626-bba369787fed.html#tracking-source=home-top-story">Omaha World-Herald</a>&nbsp;on Monday.On Sunday evening, the congregation held a vigil at the church in Fort Calhoun, a city of about 1,000 residents that's 20 minutes north of Omaha.Kelly Tegels said she had just seen Gutgsell at Mass on Saturday night, so his death didn’t feel real yet. Services were cancelled in Fort Calhoun Sunday morning, but Archbishop George Lucas met with parishioners to console them after leading a special Mass at a nearby church in Blair with a message of hope and love.“It’s going to be hard. I’m bringing flowers tonight because he always had this altar decorated with flowers, and I know he would appreciate it,” Tegels said at the vigil. She has been attending the church of about 250 families for three decades.Everett Kingrey&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ketv.com/article/fort-calhoun-community-mourns-priest-murdered-early-sunday/46086763">told KETV</a>&nbsp;that the priest’s death was “a real gut punch.”“Something you don’t expect. Especially here in a small town, but you know, terrible,” Kingrey said.Deputies arrested Kierre L. Williams, 43, of Sioux City, Iowa. He may not make his initial court appearance until Tuesday to face homicide and weapons charges, so he doesn't yet have a lawyer who could speak on his behalf. Prosecutors didn't immediately respond to a message Monday about when formal charges will be filed.The Archdiocese of Omaha asked for prayers in a statement Sunday about the “invasion at the rectory of St. John the Baptist parish in Fort Calhoun.”

Fatal stabbing of Catholic priest in church rectory shocks small Nebraska community he served

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A pregnant Texas woman who sought court permission for an abortion in an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. has left the state to obtain the procedure, her attorneys said Monday.

The announcement came as Kate Cox, 31, was awaiting a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court over whether she could legally obtain an abortion under narrow exceptions to the state’s ban. A judge gave Cox, a mother of two from the Dallas area, permission last week but that decision was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-decision-10767891a475e7ce2c82b1404450908a">put on hold</a>&nbsp;by the state’s all-Republican high court.

The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she was 20 weeks and six days pregnant.

Cox was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.</a>&nbsp;Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.

Earlier Monday, two medical groups in the U.S. urged the Texas Supreme Court to rule in favor of Cox. Her attorneys said she had been to the emergency at least four times since becoming pregnant again in August.

“The pervasive ‘climate of fear’ among the Texas medical community is certain to be made worse by this case and the State’s actions in opposing the abortion Ms. Cox needs,” read the brief, which was filed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

Texas’ abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has defended the state’s strict anti-abortion laws for nearly a decade, argued that Cox did not demonstrate that the pregnancy had put her life in danger.

“The Texas Legislature did not intend for courts to become revolving doors of permission slips to obtain abortions,” Paxton’s office wrote in a filing to the state Supreme Court last week.

Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rates, according to her lawsuit filed last week in Austin. They also told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.

Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, doctors told the court in the brief filed Monday. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to the brief.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702131734401.png" alt="Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights" />
 <figcaption>Kate Cox.Courtesy The Center for Reproductive Rights</figcaption>
 </figure>AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A pregnant Texas woman who sought court permission for an abortion in an unprecedented challenge to one of the most restrictive bans in the U.S. has left the state to obtain the procedure, her attorneys said Monday.The announcement came as Kate Cox, 31, was awaiting a ruling from the Texas Supreme Court over whether she could legally obtain an abortion under narrow exceptions to the state’s ban. A judge gave Cox, a mother of two from the Dallas area, permission last week but that decision was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-decision-10767891a475e7ce2c82b1404450908a">put on hold</a>&nbsp;by the state’s all-Republican high court.“Her health is on the line. She’s been in and out of the emergency room and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-care-wait-times-us-roe-dobbs-7b0a328bb34b0acb3d37e359a63712fc">she couldn’t wait any longer,”</a>&nbsp;said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which was representing Cox.The organization did not disclose where Cox went. On Monday, she was 20 weeks and six days pregnant.Cox was believed to be the first woman in the U.S. to ask a court for permission for an abortion since&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-dobbs-anniversary-state-laws-51c2a83899f133556e715342abfcface">Roe v. Wade was overturned last year.</a>&nbsp;Her lawsuit quickly became a high-profile test of bans in Texas and a dozen other GOP-controlled states, where abortion is prohibited at nearly all stages of pregnancy.Days after Cox filed her lawsuit, a pregnant woman in Kentucky also&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-kentucky-aclu-lawsuit-14df6d5e8a5aaa36009557d080b1c779">asked a court to allow an abortion.</a>&nbsp;There has been no ruling yet in that case.Earlier Monday, two medical groups in the U.S. urged the Texas Supreme Court to rule in favor of Cox. Her attorneys said she had been to the emergency at least four times since becoming pregnant again in August.“The pervasive ‘climate of fear’ among the Texas medical community is certain to be made worse by this case and the State’s actions in opposing the abortion Ms. Cox needs,” read the brief, which was filed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.Texas’ abortion ban makes narrow exceptions when the life of the mother is in danger but not for fetal anomalies.Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has defended the state’s strict anti-abortion laws for nearly a decade, argued that Cox did not demonstrate that the pregnancy had put her life in danger.“The Texas Legislature did not intend for courts to become revolving doors of permission slips to obtain abortions,” Paxton’s office wrote in a filing to the state Supreme Court last week.Doctors told Cox that her fetus has a condition known as trisomy 18, which has a very high likelihood of miscarriage or stillbirth, and low survival rates, according to her lawsuit filed last week in Austin. They also told Cox that inducing labor or carrying the baby to term could jeopardize her ability to have another child.Trisomy 18 occurs in approximately 1 in 2,500 diagnosed pregnancies, doctors told the court in the brief filed Monday. There is no live birth in about 70% of pregnancies involving the diagnosis that proceed past 12 weeks gestational age, according to the brief.The termination of pregnancies because of fetal anomalies or other often-fatal medical problems&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/abortion-ending-pregnancies-over-grave-medical-problems-e504e595f5f4ea6139db3f7b5155ca85">is seldom discussed</a>&nbsp;in national debates over abortion. There are no recent statistics on the frequency of terminations for fetal anomalies in the U.S. but experts say it’s a small percentage of total procedures.

Woman who sought court permission for abortion leaves state for the procedure

NEW YORK (AP) — SmileDirectClub is shutting down — just months after the struggling teeth-straightening company filed for bankruptcy protection.

<a href="https://smiledirectclub.com/">Click here to read </a>the announcement on the company web site.

In an announcement, SmileDirectClub said it had made an “incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately.”

That leaves existing customers in limbo. SmileDirectClub’s aligner treatment through its telehealth platform is no longer available, the Nashville, Tennessee, company&nbsp;<a href="https://smiledirectclub.com/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;while urging consumers to consult their local dentist for further treatment. Customer care support for the company has also ceased.

Customer orders that haven’t shipped yet have been cancelled and “Lifetime Smile Guarantee” no longer exists, the company said. SmileDirectClub apologized for the inconvenience and said additional information about refund requests will arrive “once the bankruptcy process determines next steps and additional measures customers can take.”

SmileDirectClub also said that Smile Pay customers are expected to continue to make payments, leading to further confusion and frustration online. When contacted by The Associated Press Monday for additional information, a spokesperson said the company couldn’t comment further.

SmileDirectClub filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the end of September. At the time, the company reported nearly $900 million in debt. On Friday, the company said it was unable to find a partner willing to bring in enough capital to keep the company afloat, despite a monthslong search.

When SmileDirectClub went public back in 2019, the company was valued at about $8.9 billion. But its stock soon tumbled and plummeted in value over time, as the company proved to be unprofitable year after year and faced multiple legal battles. In 2022, SmileDirectClub reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earnings-0d66b4f95579aa8d0aed238ff9eff436" target="_blank">a loss of $86.4 million</a>.

SmileDirectClub, which has served over 2 million people since its 2014 founding, once promised to revolutionaize the oral care industry by selling clear dental aligners (marketed as a faster and more affordable alternative to braces) directly to consumers by mail and in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ri-state-wire-ca-state-wire-business-91b2f283975a45b9b935c53db5dbf2f6" target="_blank">major retailers</a>. But the company has also seen pushback from within and beyond the medical community.

Last year, District of Columbia attorney general’s office sued SmileDirectClub for “unfair and deceptive” practices — accusing the company of unlawfully using non-disclosure agreements to manipulate online reviews and keep customers from reporting negative experiences to regulators. SmileDirectClub denied the allegations, but agreed to a June settlement agreement that required the company to release over 17,000 customers from the NDAs and pay $500,000 to DC.

The British Dental Association has also been critical about SmileDirectClub and such remote orthodontics — pointing to cases of advanced gum disease provided with aligners, misdiagnosis risks and more in a Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TheBDA/status/1733776815414485084" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

“It shouldn’t have taken a bankruptcy to protect patients from harm,” the British Dental Association&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TheBDA/status/1733776086645830066" target="_blank">wrote</a>, while calling on U.K. regulators for increased protections. “Dentists are left to pick up the pieces when these providers offer wholly inappropriate treatment.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702322656809.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — SmileDirectClub is shutting down — just months after the struggling teeth-straightening company filed for bankruptcy protection.<a href="https://smiledirectclub.com/">Click here to read </a>the announcement on the company web site.In an announcement, SmileDirectClub said it had made an “incredibly difficult decision to wind down its global operations, effective immediately.”That leaves existing customers in limbo. SmileDirectClub’s aligner treatment through its telehealth platform is no longer available, the Nashville, Tennessee, company&nbsp;<a href="https://smiledirectclub.com/" target="_blank">said</a>&nbsp;while urging consumers to consult their local dentist for further treatment. Customer care support for the company has also ceased.Customer orders that haven’t shipped yet have been cancelled and “Lifetime Smile Guarantee” no longer exists, the company said. SmileDirectClub apologized for the inconvenience and said additional information about refund requests will arrive “once the bankruptcy process determines next steps and additional measures customers can take.”SmileDirectClub also said that Smile Pay customers are expected to continue to make payments, leading to further confusion and frustration online. When contacted by The Associated Press Monday for additional information, a spokesperson said the company couldn’t comment further.SmileDirectClub filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the end of September. At the time, the company reported nearly $900 million in debt. On Friday, the company said it was unable to find a partner willing to bring in enough capital to keep the company afloat, despite a monthslong search.When SmileDirectClub went public back in 2019, the company was valued at about $8.9 billion. But its stock soon tumbled and plummeted in value over time, as the company proved to be unprofitable year after year and faced multiple legal battles. In 2022, SmileDirectClub reported&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/earnings-0d66b4f95579aa8d0aed238ff9eff436" target="_blank">a loss of $86.4 million</a>.SmileDirectClub, which has served over 2 million people since its 2014 founding, once promised to revolutionaize the oral care industry by selling clear dental aligners (marketed as a faster and more affordable alternative to braces) directly to consumers by mail and in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/health-ri-state-wire-ca-state-wire-business-91b2f283975a45b9b935c53db5dbf2f6" target="_blank">major retailers</a>. But the company has also seen pushback from within and beyond the medical community.Last year, District of Columbia attorney general’s office sued SmileDirectClub for “unfair and deceptive” practices — accusing the company of unlawfully using non-disclosure agreements to manipulate online reviews and keep customers from reporting negative experiences to regulators. SmileDirectClub denied the allegations, but agreed to a June settlement agreement that required the company to release over 17,000 customers from the NDAs and pay $500,000 to DC.The British Dental Association has also been critical about SmileDirectClub and such remote orthodontics — pointing to cases of advanced gum disease provided with aligners, misdiagnosis risks and more in a Sunday&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TheBDA/status/1733776815414485084" target="_blank">post</a>&nbsp;on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.“It shouldn’t have taken a bankruptcy to protect patients from harm,” the British Dental Association&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/TheBDA/status/1733776086645830066" target="_blank">wrote</a>, while calling on U.K. regulators for increased protections. “Dentists are left to pick up the pieces when these providers offer wholly inappropriate treatment.”

Telehealth orthodontics company shuts down

A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump, 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, signaled he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome.

Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court. The request filed Monday for the Supreme Court to take up the matter directly reflects Smith’s desire to keep the trial, currently set for March 4, on track and to prevent any delays that could push back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">the case</a>&nbsp;until after next year’s presidential election.

The earliest the court would consider the appeal would be Jan. 5, 2024, the date of the justices' next scheduled private conference.

Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, they wrote: “It is of imperative public importance that respondent’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-9528a29b2dbebb6ee4a4ebd26780f98c">claims of immunity</a>&nbsp;be resolved by this Court and that respondent’s trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected.”

Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trump’s claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">already impeached</a>&nbsp;— and acquitted — before Congress.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698261736155.png" alt="File&nbsp;-Former President Donald Trump during a break in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court in October. -image courtesy CSPAN" />
 <figcaption>File&nbsp;-Former President Donald Trump during a break in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court in October. -image courtesy CSPAN</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) —&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jack-smith-special-counsel-prosecutor-donald-trump-garland-e1fdb71cfc258bc2be48a8b890a9269b">Special counsel Jack Smith</a>&nbsp;on Monday asked&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court">the Supreme Court</a>&nbsp;to take up and rule quickly on whether former President Donald Trump can be prosecuted on charges he plotted to overturn the 2020 election results.A federal judge ruled the case could go forward, but Trump, 2024 Republican presidential primary front-runner, signaled he would ask the federal appeals court in Washington to reverse that outcome.Smith is attempting to bypass the appeals court. The request filed Monday for the Supreme Court to take up the matter directly reflects Smith’s desire to keep the trial, currently set for March 4, on track and to prevent any delays that could push back&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-indicted-jan-6-investigation-special-counsel-debb59bb7a4d9f93f7e2dace01feccdc">the case</a>&nbsp;until after next year’s presidential election.“This case presents a fundamental question at the heart of our democracy: whether a former President is absolutely immune from federal prosecution for crimes committed while in office or is constitutionally protected from federal prosecution when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">has been impeached</a>&nbsp;but&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-capitol-siege-riots-trials-impeachments-b245b52fd7d4a079ae199c954baba452">not convicted</a>&nbsp;before the criminal proceedings begin,” prosecutors wrote.The earliest the court would consider the appeal would be Jan. 5, 2024, the date of the justices' next scheduled private conference.Underscoring the urgency for prosecutors in securing a quick resolution that can push the case forward, they wrote: “It is of imperative public importance that respondent’s&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-9528a29b2dbebb6ee4a4ebd26780f98c">claims of immunity</a>&nbsp;be resolved by this Court and that respondent’s trial proceed as promptly as possible if his claim of immunity is rejected.”At issue is&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-capitol-riot-immunity-donald-trump-a98872759762c95fa925ff831df27388">a Dec. 1 ruling</a>&nbsp;from U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan that rejected arguments by Trump’s lawyers that he was immune from federal prosecution. In her order, Chutkan, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, wrote that the office of the president “does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”“Former Presidents enjoy no special conditions on their federal criminal liability,” Chutkan wrote. “Defendant may be subject to federal investigation, indictment, prosecution, conviction, and punishment for any criminal acts undertaken while in office."If the justices get involved, they would have an opportunity to rule for the first time ever on whether ex-presidents enjoy immunity from prosecution. Justice Department policy prohibits the indictment of a sitting president. Though there’s no such bar against prosecution for a former commander in chief, lawyers for Trump say that he cannot be charged for actions that fell within his official duties as president — a claim that prosecutors have vigorously rejected.Smith’s team stressed that if the court did not expedite the matter, there would not be an opportunity to consider and resolve the question in the current term.“The United States recognizes that this is an extraordinary request. This is an extraordinary case,” prosecutors wrote. “The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.”Prosecutors are also asking the court to take up Trump’s claim, also already rejected by Chutkan, that he cannot be prosecuted in court for conduct for which he was was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-impeachment-vote-capitol-siege-0a6f2a348a6e43f27d5e1dc486027860">already impeached</a>&nbsp;— and acquitted — before Congress.Trump faces charges accusing him of working&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jan-6-hearings-trump-capitol-10351fe6d555eaee7554379ceed8bb24">to overturn the results</a>&nbsp;of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden before the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/capitol-siege">violent riot</a>&nbsp;by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. He has denied any wrongdoing.A Supreme Court case usually lasts several months, from the time the justices agree to hear it until a final decision. Smith is asking the court to move with unusual, but not unprecedented, speed.Nearly 50 years ago, the justices acted within two months of being asked to force President Richard Nixon to turn over Oval Office recordings in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/john-dean-richard-nixon-government-and-politics-crime-c7a7b99cca7c685cfc239f5e08b53378">the Watergate scandal</a>. The tapes were then used later in 1974 in the corruption prosecutions of Nixon's former aides.It took the high court just a few days to effectively decide the 2000 presidential election for Republican George W. Bush over Democrat Al Gore.

Supreme Court will decide if Trump is immune from Jan. 6 prosecution

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-board-of-regents-chair-not-concerned-amid-multiple-leadership-transitions/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

LINCOLN —&nbsp;The chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents said last week he is not concerned in the face of multiple high-ranking leadership transitions across NU.

University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen announced he&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/06/unk-chancellor-announces-retirement-22-years-after-taking-central-nebraska-role/">plans to retire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the academic year after 22 years of service at UNK. In response, Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that there is always a “next chapter” and NU will find a successful replacement for Kristensen who will move the university forward.

“He has been a public servant and not a backbencher guy —&nbsp;a guy that’s out front. I think we as a state, we as a university, are better, in part, because of Doug,” Clare said.

“I’m not concerned about it whatsoever,” Clare added.

Kristensen is the longest-serving chancellor in NU history and is the longest currently serving leader of any higher education institute in the state. He previously served 14 years in the Nebraska Legislature.

Next year, Kristensen’s departure will mark the third high-ranking administrator to leave in just under a year, joining a national trend of higher education&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chronicle.com/article/college-presidents-are-less-experienced-than-ever-and-eyeing-the-exit">administrators’ shrinking tenures</a>.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/30/retiring-unl-chancellor-reflects-on-seven-years-of-challenges-and-opportunities/">Chancellor Ronnie Green retired</a>&nbsp;at the end of June, after seven years of service. NU Ted Carter is on his way out the door Dec. 31 to lead The Ohio State University, after four years in Nebraska.

NU’s “next chapter” could bring a different lens to NU as regents eye longevity, at least in the search for Carter’s successor.

That search, with Clare chairing the regents’ advisory search committee, has a goal to find a leader deeply committed to Nebraska and willing to remain in the president’s seat for a decade or more.

This summer, Rodney Bennett of the University of Southern Mississippi succeeded Green and said during a candidate forum he plans to work at Nebraska for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/unl-chancellor-priority-candidate-meets-with-nebraska-students/">about 10 years</a>.

In addition to Bennett and Kristensen’s successor, University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li and University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey Gold remain at the helm of NU’s two Omaha campuses. Li joined UNO in July 2021. Gold has served in the UNMC role since early 2014, including four years as chancellor concurrently of UNO and UNMC.

Applications or nominations for the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-president-leadership-profile-released-applications-due-jan-1/">next NU president are due by Jan. 1</a>. Chris Kabourek, NU’s chief financial officer and interim president beginning Jan. 1, said he’ll quickly formulate a process to identify UNK’s next leader.

“We’ve got too many good things that are positive for the university, and we’re going to get things continuing to move up and forward,” Clare said. “I’m excited about our future.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702305738513.jpeg" alt="Regent Tim Clare, at right, joins Jay Lemons, leader of the consulting firm Academic Search, during an advisory committee meeting to find NU’s next president. Clare leads the advisory committee Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption>Regent Tim Clare, at right, joins Jay Lemons, leader of the consulting firm Academic Search, during an advisory committee meeting to find NU’s next president. Clare leads the advisory committee Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lincoln. (Zach Wendling/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Zach Wendling<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nebraska-board-of-regents-chair-not-concerned-amid-multiple-leadership-transitions/">Nebraska Examiner</a>LINCOLN —&nbsp;The chair of the University of Nebraska Board of Regents said last week he is not concerned in the face of multiple high-ranking leadership transitions across NU.University of Nebraska at Kearney Chancellor Doug Kristensen announced he&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/06/unk-chancellor-announces-retirement-22-years-after-taking-central-nebraska-role/">plans to retire</a>&nbsp;at the end of the academic year after 22 years of service at UNK. In response, Regent Tim Clare of Lincoln told the Nebraska Examiner on Friday that there is always a “next chapter” and NU will find a successful replacement for Kristensen who will move the university forward.“He has been a public servant and not a backbencher guy —&nbsp;a guy that’s out front. I think we as a state, we as a university, are better, in part, because of Doug,” Clare said.“I’m not concerned about it whatsoever,” Clare added.Kristensen is the longest-serving chancellor in NU history and is the longest currently serving leader of any higher education institute in the state. He previously served 14 years in the Nebraska Legislature.Next year, Kristensen’s departure will mark the third high-ranking administrator to leave in just under a year, joining a national trend of higher education&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chronicle.com/article/college-presidents-are-less-experienced-than-ever-and-eyeing-the-exit">administrators’ shrinking tenures</a>.University of Nebraska-Lincoln&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/06/30/retiring-unl-chancellor-reflects-on-seven-years-of-challenges-and-opportunities/">Chancellor Ronnie Green retired</a>&nbsp;at the end of June, after seven years of service. NU Ted Carter is on his way out the door Dec. 31 to lead The Ohio State University, after four years in Nebraska.NU’s “next chapter” could bring a different lens to NU as regents eye longevity, at least in the search for Carter’s successor.That search, with Clare chairing the regents’ advisory search committee, has a goal to find a leader deeply committed to Nebraska and willing to remain in the president’s seat for a decade or more.This summer, Rodney Bennett of the University of Southern Mississippi succeeded Green and said during a candidate forum he plans to work at Nebraska for&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/unl-chancellor-priority-candidate-meets-with-nebraska-students/">about 10 years</a>.In addition to Bennett and Kristensen’s successor, University of Nebraska at Omaha Chancellor Joanne Li and University of Nebraska Medical Center Chancellor Jeffrey Gold remain at the helm of NU’s two Omaha campuses. Li joined UNO in July 2021. Gold has served in the UNMC role since early 2014, including four years as chancellor concurrently of UNO and UNMC.Applications or nominations for the&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/briefs/nu-president-leadership-profile-released-applications-due-jan-1/">next NU president are due by Jan. 1</a>. Chris Kabourek, NU’s chief financial officer and interim president beginning Jan. 1, said he’ll quickly formulate a process to identify UNK’s next leader.“We’ve got too many good things that are positive for the university, and we’re going to get things continuing to move up and forward,” Clare said. “I’m excited about our future.”

Nebraska Board of Regents chair ‘not concerned’ amid multiple leadership transitions

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been arrested in the stabbing death of a Catholic priest who was attacked over the weekend in a church rectory in a small Nebraska community, authorities said.

The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was assaulted Sunday “during an invasion” of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the Archdiocese of Omaha said in a statement.

Gutgsell was taken to an Omaha hospital, where he died from his injuries, church officials said. Fort Calhoun, with a population of about 1,000 people, is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Omaha.

Police received a 911 call about an attempted break-in at the church just after 5 a.m. When officers arrived, they found Gutgsell injured and a suspected attacker inside. Kierre L. Williams, 43, was arrested on charges of homicide and using a weapon to commit a felony, Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said in a statement.

It is not clear if Williams, who is from Sioux City, Iowa, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Fort Calhoun, has a lawyer. A message left at the county jail was not immediately returned.

In 2007, Gutgsell pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. He was later reassigned to another church. At the time, church leaders said Gutgsell learned his lesson, admitted wrongdoing and sought forgiveness.

Earlier this year, his brother, the Rev. Michael Gutgsell, also pled guilty to theft charges. He served as chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese from 1994 until 2003.

Robinson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wowt.com/app/2023/12/10/washington-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-priests-death/">told WOWT-TV</a>&nbsp;that authorities did not believe Stephen Gutgsell's death was related to his criminal history. Robinson did not respond Sunday to questions on the topic from The Associated Press.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A man has been arrested in the stabbing death of a Catholic priest who was attacked over the weekend in a church rectory in a small Nebraska community, authorities said.The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell was assaulted Sunday “during an invasion” of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, the Archdiocese of Omaha said in a statement.Gutgsell was taken to an Omaha hospital, where he died from his injuries, church officials said. Fort Calhoun, with a population of about 1,000 people, is roughly 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Omaha.Police received a 911 call about an attempted break-in at the church just after 5 a.m. When officers arrived, they found Gutgsell injured and a suspected attacker inside. Kierre L. Williams, 43, was arrested on charges of homicide and using a weapon to commit a felony, Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said in a statement.It is not clear if Williams, who is from Sioux City, Iowa, about 85 miles (137 kilometers) north of Fort Calhoun, has a lawyer. A message left at the county jail was not immediately returned.In 2007, Gutgsell pleaded guilty to theft by deception for embezzling $127,000 from an area church. He was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution. He was later reassigned to another church. At the time, church leaders said Gutgsell learned his lesson, admitted wrongdoing and sought forgiveness.Earlier this year, his brother, the Rev. Michael Gutgsell, also pled guilty to theft charges. He served as chancellor of the Omaha archdiocese from 1994 until 2003.Robinson&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wowt.com/app/2023/12/10/washington-county-sheriffs-office-investigating-priests-death/">told WOWT-TV</a>&nbsp;that authorities did not believe Stephen Gutgsell's death was related to his criminal history. Robinson did not respond Sunday to questions on the topic from The Associated Press.

Iowa man arrested in the death of a Nebraska priest

<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/07/speaker-says-legislature-pursuing-bill-not-lawsuit-to-resolve-separation-of-powers-dispute/">Nebraska Examiner</a>

Editor’s note: this story has been corrected to reflect that senators recently visited a youth treatment facility in Kearney, not Geneva, where a similar state facility has been closed.

LINCOLN — State lawmakers are for now pursuing a legislative, rather than a legal, resolution to a battle with the Pillen administration over a separation of powers dispute involving two inspectors general offices.

&nbsp;The Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, State Sen. John Arch, said Thursday that legislative leaders are in negotiation with the administration over how state statutes might be changed to retain the oversight powers of the inspectors general of child welfare and corrections, without a contentious court battle.

A bill would be introduced during the 2024 session that begins in January in hopes of resolving the dispute between the legislative and executive branches.

“I would not say that (a lawsuit) is off the table. But we’re trying to find a way to accomplish what we need to accomplish … and not end up in court,” Arch said.

That comment, during an annual, pre-session retreat of state legislators, brought concerns from some lawmakers who questioned whether legislative leaders were acquiescing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/docs/opinions/Opinion%20No.%2023-008.pdf">the nonbinding opinion</a>&nbsp;of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.

“If legislation is already being drafted, that seems to acknowledge the accuracy of the AG’s opinion,” said Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, an attorney. “To me, that suggests we’ve made the decision not to go to court.”

Another attorney, Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, pointed out that such a legal opinion doesn’t change state law and noted that would require a decision in a lawsuit.

“The law is the law is the law,” Conrad said.

The investigative powers of the inspectors general’s offices have been in flux since August, when Hilgers issued&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/16/attorney-generals-opinion-casts-doubt-on-powers-of-legislatures-inspectors-general/">a nonbinding legal opinion</a>&nbsp;that the investigative powers given the offices violated the separation of powers clause of the State Constitution. Those powers granted “virtually untrammeled power to impede, control, and access” records of executive branch agencies, the state’s top lawyer said.

The two offices were created by the State Legislature to provide stronger oversight over the state Departments of Corrections and Health and Human Services in the wake of scandals involving four murders committed by a released inmate, Nikko Jenkins, and a failed experiment in privatizing child welfare services.

But since the legal opinion was issued, the inspectors general have been blocked from accessing data about cases of abuse involving state wards and disturbances within state prisons. The State Ombudsman’s Office, which includes the IG offices, has also been blocked from former paths of discovery and from visiting state institutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702304387421.jpeg" alt=" State senators work on the final day of the 2023 session of the Nebraska Legislature (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)" />
 <figcaption> State senators work on the final day of the 2023 session of the Nebraska Legislature (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)</figcaption>
 </figure>Paul Hammel&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/12/07/speaker-says-legislature-pursuing-bill-not-lawsuit-to-resolve-separation-of-powers-dispute/">Nebraska Examiner</a>Editor’s note: this story has been corrected to reflect that senators recently visited a youth treatment facility in Kearney, not Geneva, where a similar state facility has been closed.LINCOLN — State lawmakers are for now pursuing a legislative, rather than a legal, resolution to a battle with the Pillen administration over a separation of powers dispute involving two inspectors general offices.&nbsp;The Speaker of the Nebraska Legislature, State Sen. John Arch, said Thursday that legislative leaders are in negotiation with the administration over how state statutes might be changed to retain the oversight powers of the inspectors general of child welfare and corrections, without a contentious court battle.A bill would be introduced during the 2024 session that begins in January in hopes of resolving the dispute between the legislative and executive branches.“I would not say that (a lawsuit) is off the table. But we’re trying to find a way to accomplish what we need to accomplish … and not end up in court,” Arch said.That comment, during an annual, pre-session retreat of state legislators, brought concerns from some lawmakers who questioned whether legislative leaders were acquiescing to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://ago.nebraska.gov/sites/ago.nebraska.gov/files/docs/opinions/Opinion%20No.%2023-008.pdf">the nonbinding opinion</a>&nbsp;of Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers.“If legislation is already being drafted, that seems to acknowledge the accuracy of the AG’s opinion,” said Lincoln Sen. George Dungan, an attorney. “To me, that suggests we’ve made the decision not to go to court.”Another attorney, Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad, pointed out that such a legal opinion doesn’t change state law and noted that would require a decision in a lawsuit.“The law is the law is the law,” Conrad said.The investigative powers of the inspectors general’s offices have been in flux since August, when Hilgers issued&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/08/16/attorney-generals-opinion-casts-doubt-on-powers-of-legislatures-inspectors-general/">a nonbinding legal opinion</a>&nbsp;that the investigative powers given the offices violated the separation of powers clause of the State Constitution. Those powers granted “virtually untrammeled power to impede, control, and access” records of executive branch agencies, the state’s top lawyer said.The two offices were created by the State Legislature to provide stronger oversight over the state Departments of Corrections and Health and Human Services in the wake of scandals involving four murders committed by a released inmate, Nikko Jenkins, and a failed experiment in privatizing child welfare services.But since the legal opinion was issued, the inspectors general have been blocked from accessing data about cases of abuse involving state wards and disturbances within state prisons. The State Ombudsman’s Office, which includes the IG offices, has also been blocked from former paths of discovery and from visiting state institutions.<h2>Vulnerable populations involved</h2>Omaha Sen. Michaela Cavanaugh expressed concern that vulnerable populations under state supervision are facing abuse and neglect without lawmakers being aware of it.Earlier this fall, Cavanaugh and fellow Sen. Jen Day of Gretna traveled to the Youth Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in Kearney after hearing reports of abuse of teens there, and learning that the Inspector General for Child Welfare was being denied reports about incidents there.“I’m very concerned about what’s going to happen,” Cavanaugh said.She added that the issue also raises concern about the powers of two other oversight entities, the Legislature’s Performance Audit Committee and the Foster Care Review Office.State Ombudsman Julie Rogers, whose office includes the IGs, said that her employees are “finding different ways” to probe citizen complaints about performance of all state agencies, as well as Corrections and DHHS, “but it’s taking longer.”Arch said that there’s been friction between the “co-equal” legislative and executive branches for some time,but that he has found the inspectors general to be very helpful in addressing concerns about the state YRTCs and the controversial child welfare management contract with Saint Francis Ministries.&nbsp;He said going to court always comes with uncertainties, but there’s also a matter of wisely spending state funds — a lawsuit could be expensive.&nbsp;The Executive Board, after Hilgers’ opinion came out, hired Lincoln attorney Marnie Jensen to represent the Legislature, to work on both the “short-term implications” of the legal opinion and a “long-term legislative solution.”Hilgers, in his opinion, stated that the powers granted to the inspectors general infringed on the right of state executives and courts to oversee their own branches and that “dynamic compromise” ought to determine what data is shared between branches.Arch said there have been several discussions with Pillen administration officials over possible legislative solutions to the dispute. A bill, if introduced, would then be reviewed by the Executive Board, which is generally considered to be the top leadership in the Legislature.&nbsp;If those talks break down, Arch said, or lawmakers can’t agreed on a legislative solution, then a lawsuit would be considered.At least two senators, Dungan and Cavanaugh, expressed frustration that the issue of whether to pursue legal action hadn’t been discussed with lawmakers earlier.