WASHINGTON —A mysterious respiratory&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-27/china-warns-of-coming-respiratory-surge-after-pneumonia-hit-kids" target="_blank">illness</a>&nbsp;is once again spreading in China.&nbsp; "Until we know more about what could be a new pathogen, the United States must do everything possible to prevent the illness from reaching our shores."

<a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/12.01.23-Rubio-et-al-Letter-to-POTUS-re-China-travel-pause.pdf">Click. here</a>&nbsp;to read the full text of the letter

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to restrict travel between the U.S. and China "until we know more about this disease."

Joining Rubio in his efforts were Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Mike Braun (R-IN).

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701640850820.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON —A mysterious respiratory&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-11-27/china-warns-of-coming-respiratory-surge-after-pneumonia-hit-kids" target="_blank">illness</a>&nbsp;is once again spreading in China.&nbsp; "Until we know more about what could be a new pathogen, the United States must do everything possible to prevent the illness from reaching our shores."<a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/12.01.23-Rubio-et-al-Letter-to-POTUS-re-China-travel-pause.pdf">Click. here</a>&nbsp;to read the full text of the letterU.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and colleagues sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to restrict travel between the U.S. and China "until we know more about this disease."<ul>
 <li>“[W]e should not wait for the WHO to take action given its track record of slavish deference to the [Chinese Communist Party]. We must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans, and our economy. That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and the [People’s Republic of China] until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness. A ban on travel now could save our country from death, lockdowns, mandates, and further outbreaks later.</li><li>The World Health Organization has requested China share “detailed information” regarding the outbreak, which is largely attacking children and has caused&nbsp;overcrowding in some of the country’s hospitals.</li>
 </ul>Joining Rubio in his efforts were Senators J.D. Vance (R-OH), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Mike Braun (R-IN).

GOP senators call for travel ban from China to stop mystery illness spread

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

Acting United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Jeremy A. Kinney, 49, of Campbell was sentenced November 6, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. 

Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Kinney to 156 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 216 months. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Kinney was ordered to forfeit $5,000 cash that was seized in the investigation.&nbsp; After Kinney’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.

Investigators obtained a court-authorized tracking device on Kinney’s 2014 Nissan Maxima. Based on information from the tracker, visual surveillance, and analysis of phone records and jail calls, investigators obtained a search warrant for Kinney’s car. On May 26, Kinney’s Maxima was tracked while traveling from Colorado and heading northeast on Interstate 76. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper noticed the car heading eastbound in Furnas County, Nebraska, and attempted a traffic stop. Kinney, who was driving at the time, sped up which prompted a pursuit by law enforcement.

During the pursuit, Kinney drove eastbound in westbound traffic lanes, at times passing westbound traffic on the shoulder. Investigators used spike strips to stop Kinney’s car. Kinney continued to pass vehicles while driving on the shoulder of oncoming traffic lanes. A tactical vehicle intervention team was able to direct the Maxima into a ditch. During the pursuit, Kinney threw objects from the Maxima. Investigators returned to the areas where Kinney was seen tossing items and located a baggie containing approximately 0.6 pounds of suspected meth. &nbsp;Investigators found $5,000 cash bundled on the front passenger seat and a 9 mm handgun on the ground near where the Maxima had stopped.

Investigators returned to the roadway where the first bag of drugs was found and located an additional bag containing 1.2 pounds and third bag containing 1.3 pounds of meth. The drugs were sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crim Laboratory where a forensic scientist confirmed the presence of meth.

This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Trident Drug Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

U.S. Attorney's Office, District of NebraskaActing United States Attorney Susan T. Lehr announced that Jeremy A. Kinney, 49, of Campbell was sentenced November 6, 2023, in federal court in Lincoln, Nebraska, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm during a drug trafficking crime. Senior United States District Judge John M. Gerrard sentenced Kinney to 156 months’ imprisonment on the drug charge and a consecutive 60 months’ imprisonment on the firearm charge, for a total sentence of 216 months. There is no parole in the federal system. Additionally, Kinney was ordered to forfeit $5,000 cash that was seized in the investigation.&nbsp; After Kinney’s release from prison, he will begin a five-year term of supervised release.Investigators obtained a court-authorized tracking device on Kinney’s 2014 Nissan Maxima. Based on information from the tracker, visual surveillance, and analysis of phone records and jail calls, investigators obtained a search warrant for Kinney’s car. On May 26, Kinney’s Maxima was tracked while traveling from Colorado and heading northeast on Interstate 76. A Nebraska State Patrol trooper noticed the car heading eastbound in Furnas County, Nebraska, and attempted a traffic stop. Kinney, who was driving at the time, sped up which prompted a pursuit by law enforcement.During the pursuit, Kinney drove eastbound in westbound traffic lanes, at times passing westbound traffic on the shoulder. Investigators used spike strips to stop Kinney’s car. Kinney continued to pass vehicles while driving on the shoulder of oncoming traffic lanes. A tactical vehicle intervention team was able to direct the Maxima into a ditch. During the pursuit, Kinney threw objects from the Maxima. Investigators returned to the areas where Kinney was seen tossing items and located a baggie containing approximately 0.6 pounds of suspected meth. &nbsp;Investigators found $5,000 cash bundled on the front passenger seat and a 9 mm handgun on the ground near where the Maxima had stopped.Investigators returned to the roadway where the first bag of drugs was found and located an additional bag containing 1.2 pounds and third bag containing 1.3 pounds of meth. The drugs were sent to the Nebraska State Patrol Crim Laboratory where a forensic scientist confirmed the presence of meth.This case was investigated by the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Trident Drug Task Force, which is made up of officers from the Grand Island Police Department, Hall County Sheriff, Hastings Police Department, Adams County Sheriff, Kearney Police Department, Buffalo County Sheriff, Nebraska State Patrol, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Campbell Man Sentenced for Firearm and Drug Trafficking Crimes

Chris Kratochvil, MD, has been named the new vice chancellor for external relations for UNMC, following Friday’s approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.

Dr. Kratochvil has served as interim vice chancellor for external relations since the retirement of Bob Bartee at the end of 2022. His title change is effective immediately.

After completing a comprehensive review, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said there was unanimous agreement among the review committee in changing his title from interim to permanent.

“Chris has demonstrated time and again his prowess as a visionary leader, communicator and team player,” Dr. Gold said. “He has had multiple leadership roles at UNMC over the years and excelled in every one of them. I have no doubt he will continue to grow UNMC’s stature among our stakeholders, including our state and federal partners and the broader community.”

“I am truly honored for the opportunity to serve UNMC in this way,” Dr. Kratochvil said. “External relations covers a multitude of exciting and dynamic domains, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to work with the exceptional team of professionals who work in this office and across the organization.”

Since joining UNMC in 1999, Dr. Kratochvil has held several leadership positions, including associate vice chancellor for clinical research in 2010 and the first vice president for research for Nebraska Medicine in 2014. He served as executive director for clinical research at the Global Center for Health Security from 2019-2022 after helping establish that organization following the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and currently serves as senior advisor to the center.

A professor of psychiatry, Dr. Kratochvil&nbsp;previously focused his research experience&nbsp;on neuroscience drug development, and now includes collaborations with the National Strategic Research Institute. He chaired the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and currently serves as a co-principal investigator of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center initiative. This work allowed him to develop extensive experience in government relations and strategic communications on both the state and federal level well before his transition to the interim vice chancellor for external relations role in 2022.

Dr. Kratochvil’s leadership roles have left him with a depth of experience in alumni and community relations, which he leveraged during his time in the interim vice chancellor of external communications role.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701614462553.jpeg" alt="Chris Kratochvil, MD" />
 <figcaption>Chris Kratochvil, MD</figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCChris Kratochvil, MD, has been named the new vice chancellor for external relations for UNMC, following Friday’s approval by the University of Nebraska Board of Regents.Dr. Kratochvil has served as interim vice chancellor for external relations since the retirement of Bob Bartee at the end of 2022. His title change is effective immediately.After completing a comprehensive review, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, said there was unanimous agreement among the review committee in changing his title from interim to permanent.“Chris has demonstrated time and again his prowess as a visionary leader, communicator and team player,” Dr. Gold said. “He has had multiple leadership roles at UNMC over the years and excelled in every one of them. I have no doubt he will continue to grow UNMC’s stature among our stakeholders, including our state and federal partners and the broader community.”“I am truly honored for the opportunity to serve UNMC in this way,” Dr. Kratochvil said. “External relations covers a multitude of exciting and dynamic domains, and I am thrilled to be able to continue to work with the exceptional team of professionals who work in this office and across the organization.”Since joining UNMC in 1999, Dr. Kratochvil has held several leadership positions, including associate vice chancellor for clinical research in 2010 and the first vice president for research for Nebraska Medicine in 2014. He served as executive director for clinical research at the Global Center for Health Security from 2019-2022 after helping establish that organization following the 2014 Ebola outbreak, and currently serves as senior advisor to the center.A professor of psychiatry, Dr. Kratochvil&nbsp;previously focused his research experience&nbsp;on neuroscience drug development, and now includes collaborations with the National Strategic Research Institute. He chaired the Big Ten Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases and currently serves as a co-principal investigator of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Training, Simulation and Quarantine Center initiative. This work allowed him to develop extensive experience in government relations and strategic communications on both the state and federal level well before his transition to the interim vice chancellor for external relations role in 2022.Dr. Kratochvil’s leadership roles have left him with a depth of experience in alumni and community relations, which he leveraged during his time in the interim vice chancellor of external communications role.

Dr. Kratochvil named vice chancellor for external relations

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Saturday issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/epas-final-rule-oil-and-natural-gas">final rule</a>&nbsp;aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy.

<a href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-12/key-things-to-know-about-epas-final-rule-for-oil-and-natural-gas-operations.fact-sheet.pdf">The Environmental Protection Agency</a>&nbsp;said the rule will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants generated by the oil and gas industry, promote use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies and deliver significant public health benefits in the form of reduced hospital visits, lost school days and even deaths. Air pollution from oil and gas operations can cause cancer, harm the nervous and respiratory systems and contribute to birth defects.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi announced the final rule at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-united-nations-climate-change-dubai-aljaber-543225dd77913eee8ca69bc53ea3da76">U.N. climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates. Separately, the president of the climate summit announced Saturday that 50 oil companies representing nearly half of global production have pledged to reach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-changemethanecop28-58c756d843fbc696b28a330295505be7">near-zero methane emissions</a>&nbsp;and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-dubai-cop28-climate-change-faa8031d0e41b3b9458eecebf03e564b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, the top American representative at the summit, said the U.S. and other nations must act boldly to confront the fallout from climate change.

“The urgency of this moment is clear,” Harris said. “The clock is no longer just ticking. It is banging. And we must make up for lost time.”

The U.S. rule on methane emissions is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration that includes financial incentives to buy electric vehicles and upgrade infrastructure — spending that Harris said will total roughly $1 trillion over 10 years.

Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, the main component in natural gas and far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. It is responsible for about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Sharp cuts in methane emissions are a global priority to slow the rate of climate change and are a major topic at the conference, known as COP28.

Presidents, prime ministers and royals from nations rich and poor have vowed to reduce how much their countries spew heat-trapping gases and asked their colleagues to do better.

“On Day One, President Biden restored America’s critical role as the global leader in confronting climate change,'' Regan said, referring to Biden's actions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executive-orders-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6">returning the U.S. to the Paris climate agreement</a>&nbsp;and ordering an immediate review of environmental regulations rolled back by the previous administration.

The methane rule finalizes a proposal Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-scotland-europe-aa0893a5aaa68f4ec3a431dc2712a587">made at a UN climate conference in Scotland in 2021</a>&nbsp;and expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-oil-and-gas-industry-climate-environment-3a5b7049478ec7161fcbd18f1ebdb0ba">a year later at a climate conference in Egypt</a>. It targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that will be required to find and plug methane leaks. Such wells currently are subject to an initial inspection but are rarely checked again for leaks.

Studies have found that smaller wells produce just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas but account for up to half the methane emissions from well sites.

The plan also will phase in a requirement for energy companies to eliminate routine flaring of natural gas that is produced by new oil wells.

The new methane rule will help ensure that the United States meets a goal set by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, Regan said.

The EPA rule is just one of more than 100 actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce methane emissions, Zaidi added.

“From mobilizing billions in investment to plug orphaned wells, patch leaky pipes and reclaim abandoned mines, to setting strong standards that will cut pollution from the oil and gas sector, the Biden-Harris Administration is putting the full throw-weight of the federal government into slashing harmful methane pollution,'' he said.

The new rule will be coordinated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">a methane fee</a>&nbsp;approved in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-congress-climate-and-environment-f084d23d61ebb068068d4aa92c82fdbb">2022 climate law.</a>&nbsp;The fee, set to take effect next year, will charge energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions as much as $1,500 per metric ton of methane. The plan marks the first time the U.S. government has directly imposed a fee, or tax, on greenhouse gas emissions.

The law allows exemptions for companies that comply with the EPA’s standards or fall below a certain emissions threshold. It also includes $1.5 billon in grants and other spending to help companies and local communities improve monitoring and data collection, and find and repair natural gas leaks.

Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, called the new rule a victory for public health.

“EPA heeded the urgent guidance of health experts across the country and finalized a strong methane rule that, when fully implemented, will significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants and climate-warming methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,'' he said in a statement.

Methane has been shown to leak into the atmosphere during every stage of oil and gas production, Wimmer said, and "people who live near oil and gas wells are especially vulnerable to these exposure risks. This rule (is) vital to advancing environmental justice commitments.''

David Doniger, a climate expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, called methane a “super-polluter.” He said in an interview that the Biden plan "takes a very solid whack at climate pollution. I wish this had happened 10 years ago (under the Obama administration), but I'm really happy it's happening now.''

Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, said the new rule ensures that “the U.S. now has the most protective methane pollution limits on the books. With other countries also zeroing in on methane as a key climate risk, it’s a signal to operators worldwide that clean-up time is here,'' he said.

The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation of methane emissions, preferring a single national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules. Even so, energy companies have asked EPA to exempt hundreds of thousands of the nation’s smallest wells from the pending methane rules.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701532302992.png" alt=""President Biden and I are demonstrating through action how the world can and must meet the climate crisis," said Vice President Kamala Harris." />
 <figcaption>"President Biden and I are demonstrating through action how the world can and must meet the climate crisis," said Vice President Kamala Harris.</figcaption>
 </figure>WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Saturday issued a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.epa.gov/controlling-air-pollution-oil-and-natural-gas-industry/epas-final-rule-oil-and-natural-gas">final rule</a>&nbsp;aimed at reducing methane emissions, targeting the U.S. oil and natural gas industry for its role in global warming as President Joe Biden seeks to advance his climate legacy.<a href="https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-12/key-things-to-know-about-epas-final-rule-for-oil-and-natural-gas-operations.fact-sheet.pdf">The Environmental Protection Agency</a>&nbsp;said the rule will sharply reduce methane and other harmful air pollutants generated by the oil and gas industry, promote use of cutting-edge methane detection technologies and deliver significant public health benefits in the form of reduced hospital visits, lost school days and even deaths. Air pollution from oil and gas operations can cause cancer, harm the nervous and respiratory systems and contribute to birth defects.EPA Administrator Michael Regan and White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi announced the final rule at the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/cop28-united-nations-climate-change-dubai-aljaber-543225dd77913eee8ca69bc53ea3da76">U.N. climate conference</a>&nbsp;in the United Arab Emirates. Separately, the president of the climate summit announced Saturday that 50 oil companies representing nearly half of global production have pledged to reach&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-changemethanecop28-58c756d843fbc696b28a330295505be7">near-zero methane emissions</a>&nbsp;and end routine flaring in their operations by 2030.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Tune in as I deliver the United States’ Statement at COP28. <a href="https://t.co/D3nVCkpKMW">https://t.co/D3nVCkpKMW</a>&mdash; Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) <a href="https://twitter.com/VP/status/1730893769031975383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-dubai-cop28-climate-change-faa8031d0e41b3b9458eecebf03e564b">Vice President Kamala Harris</a>, the top American representative at the summit, said the U.S. and other nations must act boldly to confront the fallout from climate change.“The urgency of this moment is clear,” Harris said. “The clock is no longer just ticking. It is banging. And we must make up for lost time.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The COP28 Presidency today launched the landmark Oil and Gas Decarbonization Charter (OGDC), a global industry Charter dedicated to speeding up climate action and achieving high-scale impact across the oil and gas sectors.⁰⁰To date, 50 companies, representing more than 40… <a href="https://t.co/0ZV4qiye0y">pic.twitter.com/0ZV4qiye0y</a>&mdash; COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) <a href="https://twitter.com/COP28_UAE/status/1730930220931096849?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The U.S. rule on methane emissions is part of a broader effort by the Biden administration that includes financial incentives to buy electric vehicles and upgrade infrastructure — spending that Harris said will total roughly $1 trillion over 10 years.Oil and gas operations are the largest industrial source of methane, the main component in natural gas and far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term. It is responsible for about one-third of planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions. Sharp cuts in methane emissions are a global priority to slow the rate of climate change and are a major topic at the conference, known as COP28.Presidents, prime ministers and royals from nations rich and poor have vowed to reduce how much their countries spew heat-trapping gases and asked their colleagues to do better.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">118 countries have agreed to triple installed global renewable energy generation capacity to at least 11,000 gigawatts and to double the annual global average rate of energy efficiency improvements from ~2 percent to more than 4 percent every year until 2030. ⁰<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COP28?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COP28</a>… <a href="https://t.co/ctRoeci16M">pic.twitter.com/ctRoeci16M</a>&mdash; COP28 UAE (@COP28_UAE) <a href="https://twitter.com/COP28_UAE/status/1730934765748961440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>“On Day One, President Biden restored America’s critical role as the global leader in confronting climate change,'' Regan said, referring to Biden's actions&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-executive-orders-b5b409da08e42414b9a12e2c67ee2df6">returning the U.S. to the Paris climate agreement</a>&nbsp;and ordering an immediate review of environmental regulations rolled back by the previous administration.The methane rule finalizes a proposal Biden&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/climate-joe-biden-business-scotland-europe-aa0893a5aaa68f4ec3a431dc2712a587">made at a UN climate conference in Scotland in 2021</a>&nbsp;and expanded&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/biden-business-prices-oil-and-gas-industry-climate-environment-3a5b7049478ec7161fcbd18f1ebdb0ba">a year later at a climate conference in Egypt</a>. It targets emissions from existing oil and gas wells nationwide, rather than focusing only on new wells, as previous EPA regulations have done. It also regulates smaller wells that will be required to find and plug methane leaks. Such wells currently are subject to an initial inspection but are rarely checked again for leaks.Studies have found that smaller wells produce just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas but account for up to half the methane emissions from well sites.The plan also will phase in a requirement for energy companies to eliminate routine flaring of natural gas that is produced by new oil wells.The new methane rule will help ensure that the United States meets a goal set by more than 100 nations to cut methane emissions by 30% by 2030 from 2020 levels, Regan said.The EPA rule is just one of more than 100 actions the Biden administration has taken to reduce methane emissions, Zaidi added.“From mobilizing billions in investment to plug orphaned wells, patch leaky pipes and reclaim abandoned mines, to setting strong standards that will cut pollution from the oil and gas sector, the Biden-Harris Administration is putting the full throw-weight of the federal government into slashing harmful methane pollution,'' he said.The new rule will be coordinated with&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/inflation-biden-health-seniors-medicare-9c2b70dc2f2d7291acc4292799ff342c">a methane fee</a>&nbsp;approved in the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/technology-science-congress-climate-and-environment-f084d23d61ebb068068d4aa92c82fdbb">2022 climate law.</a>&nbsp;The fee, set to take effect next year, will charge energy producers that exceed a certain level of methane emissions as much as $1,500 per metric ton of methane. The plan marks the first time the U.S. government has directly imposed a fee, or tax, on greenhouse gas emissions.The law allows exemptions for companies that comply with the EPA’s standards or fall below a certain emissions threshold. It also includes $1.5 billon in grants and other spending to help companies and local communities improve monitoring and data collection, and find and repair natural gas leaks.Harold Wimmer, president and CEO of the American Lung Association, called the new rule a victory for public health.“EPA heeded the urgent guidance of health experts across the country and finalized a strong methane rule that, when fully implemented, will significantly reduce hazardous air pollutants and climate-warming methane pollution from the oil and gas industry,'' he said in a statement.Methane has been shown to leak into the atmosphere during every stage of oil and gas production, Wimmer said, and "people who live near oil and gas wells are especially vulnerable to these exposure risks. This rule (is) vital to advancing environmental justice commitments.''David Doniger, a climate expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council, called methane a “super-polluter.” He said in an interview that the Biden plan "takes a very solid whack at climate pollution. I wish this had happened 10 years ago (under the Obama administration), but I'm really happy it's happening now.''Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, said the new rule ensures that “the U.S. now has the most protective methane pollution limits on the books. With other countries also zeroing in on methane as a key climate risk, it’s a signal to operators worldwide that clean-up time is here,'' he said.The oil industry has generally welcomed direct federal regulation of methane emissions, preferring a single national standard to a hodgepodge of state rules. Even so, energy companies have asked EPA to exempt hundreds of thousands of the nation’s smallest wells from the pending methane rules.

US targets oil, natural gas industry's role in global warming with new rule 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ballistics missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships Sunday in the Red Sea, while a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed two of the attacks.

The strikes marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. The U.S. vowed to “consider all appropriate responses” in the wake of the attack, specifically calling out Iran, after tensions have been high for years now over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-natanz-uranium-enrichment-underground-project-04dae673fc937af04e62b65dd78db2e0">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.

“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,” the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement. “They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.”

It added: “We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”

The attack began around 9:15 a.m. local time (0615 GMT) in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen's capital, Central Command said.

The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship, the U.S. said. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, although it's not clear if the destroyer was the target, Central Command said.

About 30 minutes later, the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile. While responding to its distress call, the Carney shot down another incoming drone. Central Command said the Unity Explorer sustained minor damage from the missile.

Two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, were both struck by missiles. The Number 9 reported some damage but no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no significant damage, Central Command said.

While sailing to assist the Sophie II around 4:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT), the Carney shot down another drone heading in its direction. The drones did no damage.

The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel during that nation's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It hasn't been damaged in any of the incidents and no injuries have been reported on board. The Defense Department initially described the assault as simply an attack on the Carney before providing more details.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed two of Sunday's attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved.

“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree said. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”

Saree also identified the first vessel as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The Number 9 is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, while the Sophie II is linked to Japan's Kyowa Kisen Co. Ltd. Managers for the three vessels could not be immediately reached for comment.

Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.

Iran has yet to directly address the attacks. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian threatened “that if the current situation continues, the region will enter a new phase” over the Israel-Hamas war.

“All parties who are after igniting a war are warned, before it’s too late stop the killing of women and children, of which a new round has started," Amirabdollahian said.

Iran's top diplomat described his comments as coming after conversations with “resistance forces” in the region — a description Tehran uses for the Shiite militia it backs, including groups in Iraq, the Houthis, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas.

The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel. Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.

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

Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">a truce briefly halted fighting</a>&nbsp;and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a ground offensive there had raised the risk of more seaborne attacks.

In November, the Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. Separately,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire recently came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.

The Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-general-news-united-states-presidential-election-f03b50ff873a471c88ebb1538c1e3dc9">destroyed three coastal radar sites</a>&nbsp;in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701652753204.png" alt="USS Carney in the Suez Canal, Oct. 18, 2023. photo -US Navy&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>USS Carney in the Suez Canal, Oct. 18, 2023. photo -US Navy&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ballistics missiles fired by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck three commercial ships Sunday in the Red Sea, while a U.S. warship shot down three drones in self-defense during the hourslong assault, the U.S. military said. The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed two of the attacks.The strikes marked an escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war, as multiple vessels found themselves in the crosshairs of a single Houthi assault for the first time in the conflict. The U.S. vowed to “consider all appropriate responses” in the wake of the attack, specifically calling out Iran, after tensions have been high for years now over&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/iran-nuclear-natanz-uranium-enrichment-underground-project-04dae673fc937af04e62b65dd78db2e0">Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program</a>.“These attacks represent a direct threat to international commerce and maritime security,” the U.S. military's Central Command said in a statement. “They have jeopardized the lives of international crews representing multiple countries around the world.”It added: “We also have every reason to believe that these attacks, while launched by the Houthis in Yemen, are fully enabled by Iran.”The attack began around 9:15 a.m. local time (0615 GMT) in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, Yemen's capital, Central Command said.The USS Carney, a Navy destroyer, detected a ballistic missile fired from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen at the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. The missile hit near the ship, the U.S. said. Shortly afterward, the Carney shot down a drone headed its way, although it's not clear if the destroyer was the target, Central Command said.About 30 minutes later, the Unity Explorer was hit by a missile. While responding to its distress call, the Carney shot down another incoming drone. Central Command said the Unity Explorer sustained minor damage from the missile.Two other commercial ships, the Panamanian-flagged bulk carriers Number 9 and Sophie II, were both struck by missiles. The Number 9 reported some damage but no casualties, and the Sophie II reported no significant damage, Central Command said.While sailing to assist the Sophie II around 4:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT), the Carney shot down another drone heading in its direction. The drones did no damage.The Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, has shot down multiple rockets the Houthis have fired toward Israel during that nation's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. It hasn't been damaged in any of the incidents and no injuries have been reported on board. The Defense Department initially described the assault as simply an attack on the Carney before providing more details.Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed two of Sunday's attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved.“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree said. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”Saree also identified the first vessel as the Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The Number 9 is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, while the Sophie II is linked to Japan's Kyowa Kisen Co. Ltd. Managers for the three vessels could not be immediately reached for comment.Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.Iran has yet to directly address the attacks. However, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian threatened “that if the current situation continues, the region will enter a new phase” over the Israel-Hamas war.“All parties who are after igniting a war are warned, before it’s too late stop the killing of women and children, of which a new round has started," Amirabdollahian said.Iran's top diplomat described his comments as coming after conversations with “resistance forces” in the region — a description Tehran uses for the Shiite militia it backs, including groups in Iraq, the Houthis, Lebanon's Hezbollah and Hamas.The Houthis have launched a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel. Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.The U.S. has stopped short of saying its Navy ships were targeted, but has said Houthi drones have headed toward the ships and have been shot down in self-defense. Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to try to describe the ships as not having links to their country.Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">a truce briefly halted fighting</a>&nbsp;and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and a ground offensive there had raised the risk of more seaborne attacks.In November, the Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen. Separately,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-ship-drone-attack-symi-39929cae42a191b2f242896a053123a7">a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire recently came under attack</a>&nbsp;by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.The Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-general-news-united-states-presidential-election-f03b50ff873a471c88ebb1538c1e3dc9">destroyed three coastal radar sites</a>&nbsp;in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.___

Red Sea attack: US warship responds after civilian ships hit by missiles

(AURORA, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident early this morning in Aurora that left one person deceased and two others injured. The incident is being investigated as a homicide.

At approximately 1:20 a.m. Saturday, the Aurora Police Department received a report of a stabbing that had occurred at a residence in the 100 block of Fairview Drive in Aurora. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female with significant injuries in the driveway of a neighboring house. Officers then located a person holding a knife at the residence referenced in the 911 call.

That person complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody. A search of the residence then revealed two additional victims inside the home. All three victims were transported to the hospital. One of the victims, identified as Ross Nickolaus, 48, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The female victim has since been transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha with serious injuries. The third victim, a juvenile, was treated for minor injuries and released. All three victims had stab wounds.

The suspect, identified as Caleb Arnett, 29, was transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries suffered prior to officers’ arrival. He was then lodged in Hamilton County Jail.

The Aurora Police Department has requested that the Nebraska State Patrol lead the homicide investigation. Arnett has been lodged in jail for first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault. The investigation remains ongoing.

Cody Thomas(AURORA, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol is investigating an incident early this morning in Aurora that left one person deceased and two others injured. The incident is being investigated as a homicide.At approximately 1:20 a.m. Saturday, the Aurora Police Department received a report of a stabbing that had occurred at a residence in the 100 block of Fairview Drive in Aurora. Upon arrival, officers located an adult female with significant injuries in the driveway of a neighboring house. Officers then located a person holding a knife at the residence referenced in the 911 call.That person complied with officers’ commands and was taken into custody. A search of the residence then revealed two additional victims inside the home. All three victims were transported to the hospital. One of the victims, identified as Ross Nickolaus, 48, was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The female victim has since been transported to Bergan Mercy Hospital in Omaha with serious injuries. The third victim, a juvenile, was treated for minor injuries and released. All three victims had stab wounds.The suspect, identified as Caleb Arnett, 29, was transported to the hospital and treated for minor injuries suffered prior to officers’ arrival. He was then lodged in Hamilton County Jail.The Aurora Police Department has requested that the Nebraska State Patrol lead the homicide investigation. Arnett has been lodged in jail for first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault. The investigation remains ongoing.

NSP Investigating Homicide in Aurora

The University of Nebraska Board of Regents Friday (Dec. 1) approved moving forward with planning for an infectious diseases air transport training facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

The Infectious Diseases Air Transport Training Facility (IDAT) will be a new free-standing building on an existing UNMC parking lot on the south edge of the Omaha campus.&nbsp;

In collaboration with internationally recognized experts, the up to $20 million facility will establish biocontainment patient transport training to safely and effectively care for patients with high consequence infectious diseases.

“UNMC has a long history of partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies to manage patients with high consequence infectious diseases,” said&nbsp;UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “Our work was front and center during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa when we cared for patients in our biocontainment unit. We have continued to serve our nation in regard to emergency preparedness and infectious diseases, and this training facility will further build our nation’s training capability.”

Since its founding in 2018, the Air Force Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) Omaha, has been a partner with UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security in planning, exercising and responding to high consequence infectious diseases events.&nbsp;C-STARS Omaha is a training program through the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine or USAFSAM, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. USAFSAM is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing.&nbsp;Over the years, the partners have:

Since then, a formal DoD Infectious Disease Aeromedical Transport (IDAT) course was proposed that includes a multidisciplinary team of Air Force instructor cadre to prepare personnel to safely transport patients affected by high consequence infectious diseases, and a training facility. C-STARS Omaha, in collaboration with the Global Center for Healthy Security on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, was selected for the IDAT course.

The planned training facility will include training spaces of different scales including a large space to house the C-130, C-17, NPC-Lite and NPC training units, as well as simulation classroom spaces for smaller activities. There could also be an administration element that would include office space, lounge, conference room and secure communications room.

Funding for this initial planning was provided by the Department of Defense.

“This facility will serve as a vital national asset, dedicated to providing essential training for safe and effective aeromedical evacuation in biocontainment,” said&nbsp;USAF Lt. Col. Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD, director of C-STARS Omaha.&nbsp; “We are incredibly grateful for the collaboration and support of our Nebraska partners in this pioneering leap forward to ensure swift and secure transport of patients affected by high consequence infectious diseases while protecting our nation."

“The IDAT facility will go beyond ‘just-in-time’ training and truly advance the readiness skills of federal health care workers to deliver safe and effective biocontainment care,” said Christopher Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations. “As a national resource, it serves as a point of pride for Nebraskans knowing the critical role their medical center plays in national security issues.”

“I commend the exemplary partnership between the Department of the Air Force and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in establishing the Pentagon’s first Infectious Disease Aerial Transport training course right here in Omaha,” said U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02). “Once again, the University of Nebraska is poised to make history. This new mission demonstrates the national security vision and leadership that Nebraska is known for.”&nbsp;

“The ongoing partnership between UNMC and the Air Force is a testament to the University of Nebraska and the many talented people who call this institution home. Our military medical personnel will receive first-rate training on transporting&nbsp;patients with high consequence infectious diseases. Today’s announcement is another clear example of UNMC’s national leadership in emergency preparedness,” said U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.

The Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act passed the House Representatives in September and includes an additional $3 million in funding for the IDAT initiative.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701614303155.jpeg" alt="The Negatively Pressurized Conex training unit will be housed in the Infectious Diseases Air Transport Training Facility when the facility is completed. From left, Lt. Col. Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD, Chris Kratochvil, MD, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Maj. Tiffany Welsh, Bob Valentine, Maj. Felecia Craddieth, Maj. John McClain, MD." />
 <figcaption>The Negatively Pressurized Conex training unit will be housed in the Infectious Diseases Air Transport Training Facility when the facility is completed. From left, Lt. Col. Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD, Chris Kratochvil, MD, UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD, Maj. Tiffany Welsh, Bob Valentine, Maj. Felecia Craddieth, Maj. John McClain, MD.</figcaption>
 </figure>UNMCThe University of Nebraska Board of Regents Friday (Dec. 1) approved moving forward with planning for an infectious diseases air transport training facility at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.The Infectious Diseases Air Transport Training Facility (IDAT) will be a new free-standing building on an existing UNMC parking lot on the south edge of the Omaha campus.&nbsp;In collaboration with internationally recognized experts, the up to $20 million facility will establish biocontainment patient transport training to safely and effectively care for patients with high consequence infectious diseases.“UNMC has a long history of partnering with the U.S. Department of Defense and other federal agencies to manage patients with high consequence infectious diseases,” said&nbsp;UNMC Chancellor Jeffrey P. Gold, MD. “Our work was front and center during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak in West Africa when we cared for patients in our biocontainment unit. We have continued to serve our nation in regard to emergency preparedness and infectious diseases, and this training facility will further build our nation’s training capability.”Since its founding in 2018, the Air Force Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) Omaha, has been a partner with UNMC’s Global Center for Health Security in planning, exercising and responding to high consequence infectious diseases events.&nbsp;C-STARS Omaha is a training program through the United States Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine or USAFSAM, in collaboration with the University of Nebraska Medical Center. USAFSAM is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, and is part of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing.&nbsp;Over the years, the partners have:<ul>
 <li>Evaluated the Transport Isolation System (TIS), first developed during the West Africa Ebola outbreak, to provide aeromedical evacuation for individuals exposed to or infected with high consequence infectious diseases;</li><li>Developed procedures and just-in-time training to support first operational missions of the TIS for COVID-19;</li><li>Collaborated with a team of teams on the development of the Negatively Pressurized Conex (NPC) and NPC-Lite for high capacity COVID-19 patient movement; and</li><li>Evaluated use of the NPC/NPC-Lite for aeromedical evacuation of patients affected by high consequence infectious diseases.</li>
 </ul>Since then, a formal DoD Infectious Disease Aeromedical Transport (IDAT) course was proposed that includes a multidisciplinary team of Air Force instructor cadre to prepare personnel to safely transport patients affected by high consequence infectious diseases, and a training facility. C-STARS Omaha, in collaboration with the Global Center for Healthy Security on the UNMC/Nebraska Medicine campus, was selected for the IDAT course.The planned training facility will include training spaces of different scales including a large space to house the C-130, C-17, NPC-Lite and NPC training units, as well as simulation classroom spaces for smaller activities. There could also be an administration element that would include office space, lounge, conference room and secure communications room.Funding for this initial planning was provided by the Department of Defense.“This facility will serve as a vital national asset, dedicated to providing essential training for safe and effective aeromedical evacuation in biocontainment,” said&nbsp;USAF Lt. Col. Elizabeth Schnaubelt, MD, director of C-STARS Omaha.&nbsp; “We are incredibly grateful for the collaboration and support of our Nebraska partners in this pioneering leap forward to ensure swift and secure transport of patients affected by high consequence infectious diseases while protecting our nation."“The IDAT facility will go beyond ‘just-in-time’ training and truly advance the readiness skills of federal health care workers to deliver safe and effective biocontainment care,” said Christopher Kratochvil, MD, vice chancellor for external relations. “As a national resource, it serves as a point of pride for Nebraskans knowing the critical role their medical center plays in national security issues.”“I commend the exemplary partnership between the Department of the Air Force and the University of Nebraska Medical Center in establishing the Pentagon’s first Infectious Disease Aerial Transport training course right here in Omaha,” said U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (NE-02). “Once again, the University of Nebraska is poised to make history. This new mission demonstrates the national security vision and leadership that Nebraska is known for.”&nbsp;“The ongoing partnership between UNMC and the Air Force is a testament to the University of Nebraska and the many talented people who call this institution home. Our military medical personnel will receive first-rate training on transporting&nbsp;patients with high consequence infectious diseases. Today’s announcement is another clear example of UNMC’s national leadership in emergency preparedness,” said U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer.The Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations Act passed the House Representatives in September and includes an additional $3 million in funding for the IDAT initiative.

Regents approve planning for training facility at UNMC

BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/elainepovich/">ELAINE S. POVICH</a>

In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa.

But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay. “The governor asked me what I did” before becoming a legislator, she remembered. “I said I was a teacher, and he said, ‘You have to bring back cursive writing.’”

After seven years of trying, she finally succeeded.

Last month, the California legislature unanimously passed and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring the teaching of cursive or “joined italics” handwriting in grades one through six.

While grandparents’ sprawling handwriting on birthday cards or treasured family recipes may spring to mind when many younger people think of cursive, some educators today think it’s a skill worth reviving even — or maybe especially — in an age when most kids spend hours every day on their smartphones. But others think students already have too many subjects to master and that their fingers belong on keyboards.

Some California teachers already were teaching cursive, but not usually in underresourced schools, Quirk-Silva said in an interview.

She argued cursive is valuable to read historical documents, increases writing speed and has become a popular way for teachers to make sure students are not using artificial intelligence to craft their written work.

Teaching cursive in public schools waned after the Common Core standards, which most states adopted, didn’t include cursive in the recommended curriculum. Critics of cursive requirements say time in the classroom could be better spent on new skills such as coding and keyboarding. And Quirk-Silva recalled that some younger lawmakers called the looping writing style “old-fashioned.”

Supporters recently have had some success in bringing it back, pointing to studies that show a link between cursive and cognitive abilities, including helping with reading and writing disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia.

In May,&nbsp;New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu&nbsp;signed&nbsp;a bill requiring schools to teach cursive and multiplication tables.

More than 20 states have implemented state directives to teach cursive in the past decade or so, according to Connie Slone, founder of MyCursive.com, a company that provides cursive learning materials to teachers and schools.

A few others don’t require cursive, but instead encourage it without specific mandates, according to the Zaner-Bloser company, another cursive instructional vendor.

Critics of teaching cursive remain skeptical. There’s “not much evidence that cursive matters,” said Morgan Polikoff, an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.

“If you are going to spend time on some indication of written communication, keyboarding skills are more important,” Polikoff said. “In the scheme of educational policies, I’m not sure there’s a single topic I care less about. We’ve fallen behind during COVID, we’re dealing with chronic absenteeism, student mental health is in crisis, and we’re spending time on cursive? That’s what we’re mandating?”

The Indiana legislature and governor this year changed a bill that would have required cursive, amending it so that it now only requires a study of the use of cursive in public schools. An education department report is due Dec. 1.

Over the past few years, cursive bills have been introduced but not taken up in several states, Slone said, including Colorado, Minnesota and Washington.

The late William Klemm, a neuroscience professor at Texas A&amp;M University, is widely cited by advocates for his article a decade ago in Psychology Today maintaining that learning cursive “is an important tool for cognitive development.” Cursive helps to train “the brain to learn ‘functional specialization’ — that is, the capacity for optimal efficiency,” he wrote.

A 2019&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6366728/">study</a>&nbsp;published by PLOS One and listed in the National Library of Medicine, found that “there is increasing evidence that mastering handwriting skills play an important role on academic achievement.”

And a 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7399101/">study</a>&nbsp;from researchers in Norway made the direct connection between “writing by hand” and “synchronized activity” in a particular part of the brain “important for memory and for the encoding of new information and, therefore, provides the brain with optimal conditions for learning.” The study recommended that all forms of writing — printing, cursive and typing — be taught to strengthen “both cognitive development and learning efficiency.”

Suzanne McLeod, coordinator of educational leadership at Binghamton University, a state university of New York, said cursive developed into wide use during the quill pen-and-ink era before the 1800s. It was largely because quill pens tended to blot when they were lifted off the page, she said. That means centuries of historical documents are written in cursive, and historians have to be able to read it to do original research.

“Not to have an underpinning in basic cursive where the letters connect would mean that you would need remediation in that area,” she said. “You would find it absolutely unapproachable.”

In Michigan, Democratic&nbsp;state Rep. Brenda Carter&nbsp;this year&nbsp;succeeded in getting a bill through the&nbsp;state&nbsp;House&nbsp;that encouraged — though didn’t require — teaching cursive. There was virtually no opposition, she said. But the state Senate never took up the bill before adjourning.

Carter, who must leave the House after 2024 because of term limits, said she is seeking GOP&nbsp;backing for&nbsp;the measure and is encouraged because the state Department of Education&nbsp;supports it.

“Our young people are missing out on so much,” she said. “All of the founding documents are written in cursive. Where is our history if we can’t read this? Are we depriving future generations of our history?”

This article first appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateline.org/2023/11/17/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom network, as is the Nebraska Examiner. Stateline maintains editorial independence.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700923149797.png" alt=" A child in Florida practices cursive writing exercises at home. After nearly dying out, cursive is making a comeback in public schools, with more than 20 states requiring it so far. (Wilfredo Lee/The Associated Press)" />
 <figcaption> A child in Florida practices cursive writing exercises at home. After nearly dying out, cursive is making a comeback in public schools, with more than 20 states requiring it so far. (Wilfredo Lee/The Associated Press)</figcaption>
 </figure>BY:&nbsp;<a href="https://nebraskaexaminer.com/author/elainepovich/">ELAINE S. POVICH</a>In 2016, California Democratic state Assemblymember Sharon Quirk-Silva sat with then-California Gov. Jerry Brown at an event where he signed baseball-type cards featuring the image of his dog, Colusa.But many of the recipients of the cards couldn’t read his cursive signature, Quirk-Silva recalled, much to the Democratic governor’s dismay. “The governor asked me what I did” before becoming a legislator, she remembered. “I said I was a teacher, and he said, ‘You have to bring back cursive writing.’”After seven years of trying, she finally succeeded.Last month, the California legislature unanimously passed and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring the teaching of cursive or “joined italics” handwriting in grades one through six.While grandparents’ sprawling handwriting on birthday cards or treasured family recipes may spring to mind when many younger people think of cursive, some educators today think it’s a skill worth reviving even — or maybe especially — in an age when most kids spend hours every day on their smartphones. But others think students already have too many subjects to master and that their fingers belong on keyboards.Some California teachers already were teaching cursive, but not usually in underresourced schools, Quirk-Silva said in an interview.She argued cursive is valuable to read historical documents, increases writing speed and has become a popular way for teachers to make sure students are not using artificial intelligence to craft their written work.<h2>Dropped from Common Core</h2>Teaching cursive in public schools waned after the Common Core standards, which most states adopted, didn’t include cursive in the recommended curriculum. Critics of cursive requirements say time in the classroom could be better spent on new skills such as coding and keyboarding. And Quirk-Silva recalled that some younger lawmakers called the looping writing style “old-fashioned.”Supporters recently have had some success in bringing it back, pointing to studies that show a link between cursive and cognitive abilities, including helping with reading and writing disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia.In May,&nbsp;New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu&nbsp;signed&nbsp;a bill requiring schools to teach cursive and multiplication tables.More than 20 states have implemented state directives to teach cursive in the past decade or so, according to Connie Slone, founder of MyCursive.com, a company that provides cursive learning materials to teachers and schools.A few others don’t require cursive, but instead encourage it without specific mandates, according to the Zaner-Bloser company, another cursive instructional vendor.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/11/1700923223527.png" alt="This original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting, is the kind of historic document some teachers say young people should know how to read. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)" />
 <figcaption>This original rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, in Thomas Jefferson’s handwriting, is the kind of historic document some teachers say young people should know how to read. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress)</figcaption>
 </figure>Critics of teaching cursive remain skeptical. There’s “not much evidence that cursive matters,” said Morgan Polikoff, an associate professor of education at the University of Southern California.“If you are going to spend time on some indication of written communication, keyboarding skills are more important,” Polikoff said. “In the scheme of educational policies, I’m not sure there’s a single topic I care less about. We’ve fallen behind during COVID, we’re dealing with chronic absenteeism, student mental health is in crisis, and we’re spending time on cursive? That’s what we’re mandating?”The Indiana legislature and governor this year changed a bill that would have required cursive, amending it so that it now only requires a study of the use of cursive in public schools. An education department report is due Dec. 1.Over the past few years, cursive bills have been introduced but not taken up in several states, Slone said, including Colorado, Minnesota and Washington.The late William Klemm, a neuroscience professor at Texas A&amp;M University, is widely cited by advocates for his article a decade ago in Psychology Today maintaining that learning cursive “is an important tool for cognitive development.” Cursive helps to train “the brain to learn ‘functional specialization’ — that is, the capacity for optimal efficiency,” he wrote.A 2019&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6366728/">study</a>&nbsp;published by PLOS One and listed in the National Library of Medicine, found that “there is increasing evidence that mastering handwriting skills play an important role on academic achievement.”And a 2020&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7399101/">study</a>&nbsp;from researchers in Norway made the direct connection between “writing by hand” and “synchronized activity” in a particular part of the brain “important for memory and for the encoding of new information and, therefore, provides the brain with optimal conditions for learning.” The study recommended that all forms of writing — printing, cursive and typing — be taught to strengthen “both cognitive development and learning efficiency.”<h2>Quill pen-and-ink era</h2>Suzanne McLeod, coordinator of educational leadership at Binghamton University, a state university of New York, said cursive developed into wide use during the quill pen-and-ink era before the 1800s. It was largely because quill pens tended to blot when they were lifted off the page, she said. That means centuries of historical documents are written in cursive, and historians have to be able to read it to do original research.“Not to have an underpinning in basic cursive where the letters connect would mean that you would need remediation in that area,” she said. “You would find it absolutely unapproachable.”In Michigan, Democratic&nbsp;state Rep. Brenda Carter&nbsp;this year&nbsp;succeeded in getting a bill through the&nbsp;state&nbsp;House&nbsp;that encouraged — though didn’t require — teaching cursive. There was virtually no opposition, she said. But the state Senate never took up the bill before adjourning.Carter, who must leave the House after 2024 because of term limits, said she is seeking GOP&nbsp;backing for&nbsp;the measure and is encouraged because the state Department of Education&nbsp;supports it.“Our young people are missing out on so much,” she said. “All of the founding documents are written in cursive. Where is our history if we can’t read this? Are we depriving future generations of our history?”This article first appeared in&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://stateline.org/2023/11/17/cursive-makes-a-comeback-by-law-in-public-schools/">Stateline</a>, which is part of States Newsroom network, as is the Nebraska Examiner. Stateline maintains editorial independence.

Cursive makes a comeback — by law — in public schools

(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) welcomes feedback from the public as part of its ongoing commitment to public safety for the state of Nebraska.

NSP is accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), an internationally recognized organization to develop and maintain standards for law enforcement agencies. NSP recently completed its annual review as part of the four-year CALEA accreditation process.

As part of NSP’s commitment to maintaining CALEA standards, NSP seeks the feedback of the public regarding the agency’s quality of service to the state. Feedback can be provided at the&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/office-superintendent/calea-feedback" target="_blank">NSP website</a>&nbsp;or directly to&nbsp;<a href="https://cimrs2.calea.org/" target="_blank">CALEA</a>.

The Nebraska State Patrol is one of eight law enforcement agencies in Nebraska that hold CALEA accreditation. Three additional Nebraska agencies are in the application process to receive CALEA accreditation.

Cody Thomas(LINCOLN, NEB.)&nbsp;&nbsp;— The Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) welcomes feedback from the public as part of its ongoing commitment to public safety for the state of Nebraska.NSP is accredited by CALEA (Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies), an internationally recognized organization to develop and maintain standards for law enforcement agencies. NSP recently completed its annual review as part of the four-year CALEA accreditation process.As part of NSP’s commitment to maintaining CALEA standards, NSP seeks the feedback of the public regarding the agency’s quality of service to the state. Feedback can be provided at the&nbsp;<a href="https://statepatrol.nebraska.gov/divisions/office-superintendent/calea-feedback" target="_blank">NSP website</a>&nbsp;or directly to&nbsp;<a href="https://cimrs2.calea.org/" target="_blank">CALEA</a>.The Nebraska State Patrol is one of eight law enforcement agencies in Nebraska that hold CALEA accreditation. Three additional Nebraska agencies are in the application process to receive CALEA accreditation.

NSP Seeks Feedback as Part of CALEA Accreditation

BY:&nbsp;ARIANA FIGUEROA&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>

WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Thursday passed a bill to bar the use of public lands for temporary housing for migrants applying for asylum.

The bill,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5283/cosponsors?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22H.R.+5283%22%7D">H.R. 5283</a>, passed with a majority of Republicans in support,<a target="_blank" href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023689?Page=2">&nbsp;224-203.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;The GOP members from Kansas and Missouri supported the measure.

Six Democrats voted with Republicans: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.

It’s dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority, and many Democrats criticized the bill as a messaging tactic for the 2024 elections, where hard-line immigration policies are the cornerstone of the GOP platform.

The Senate is currently negotiating a $14 billion request from the White House for U.S. border security.

“The mission of the National Park Service is to conserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of future generations, not bail out the failed border policies of the Biden administration,” the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, said during debate Wednesday.

The push for the bill comes after the Biden administration granted New York City officials’ request to build temporary housing and facilities for migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field in Southeastern Brooklyn.

The bill prohibits this type of action from land under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service.

It also revokes a 2023 lease between the National Park Service and New York City to use portions of the Gateway National Recreation Area to provide housing for migrants.

The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, said that New York City’s decision to house migrant families on public land is “encouraging people to take that treacherous journey instead of applying (for asylum) from the next safe country.”

This is not the first time House Republicans have passed legislation in response to New York City’s handling of migrants in its city.

<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/20/public-schools-banned-from-sheltering-migrants-under-bill-passed-by-u-s-house/">In July, House Republicans passed a bill</a>&nbsp;to bar the use of public K-12 school facilities to provide shelter for migrants seeking asylum. That bill, which will also go nowhere in the Senate, was in response to a May decision by New York City officials to convert several current and former school gyms to temporarily house about 300 migrants.

The top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, said the bill voted on Thursday to bar the use of public lands to temporarily house migrants was a “political stunt that will invite even more hateful anti-immigration rhetoric from the extreme MAGA wing of the Republican Party.”

During the House Rules Committee meeting on the public lands bill Tuesday, Republicans argued that the area used to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field&nbsp; posed a danger to Americans who live nearby because there are single adult men in the temporary structures. However, a majority of migrants staying at Floyd Bennett Field are families.

About 500 people are currently living at Floyd Bennett Field for up to 60 days, but it can house up to 2,000 people,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/upload/FINAL-Lease-Floyd-Bennet-Field-09-15-2023-2.pdf">according to the lease agreement</a>. As temperatures drop in New York City, there’s concern that the plastic tents will not be warm enough for those families,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/11/22/floyd-bennett-field-shelter-families-cold/">THE CITY reported</a>.

Minnesota Republican Rep. Pete Stauber said the bill is needed because “Republicans are taking action to address our Southern border crisis, because the Biden administration has failed to do so.”

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, said the bill does not help cities dealing with newly arrived migrants. She said a big issue is that because of the current asylum law, migrants have to wait six months before they are authorized to work.

Pingree advocated for her legislation, which would cut that waiting period to 30 days so that migrants aren’t spending six months relying “on social safety nets to survive.”

The Biden administration<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/09/21/biden-administration-offers-temporary-protection-to-venezuelan-migrants/">&nbsp;recently redesignated the Temporary Protected Status&nbsp;</a>for nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, which allows them to work in the U.S. The September decision came after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from Democratic lawmakers to redesignate TPS for those Venezuelan nationals.

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bob Menendez said that Republicans were vilifying families seeking refuge.

“This bill has no purpose other than to score cheap political points for House Republicans,” he said.

Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, who came to the U.S. as an immigrant when he was a child and later became a naturalized citizen, argued that New York City’s decision would encourage migrants to make the long and dangerous journey to the U.S.

“This is no way to treat immigrants seeking asylum,” Ciscomani said.

House Republicans argued that national parks should be solely for the use of&nbsp; American citizens.

“Americans shouldn’t be denied access to national parks and lands paid for by their tax dollars because of this administration’s destructive immigration policies,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, Republican of Virginia, said.

However, national parks are not limited to use for only American citizens, as there is no citizenship requirement to enter a park and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/ocl/national-parks-visitation">millions of international visitors attend national parks each year.&nbsp;</a>

Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin said that he was concerned about the damage that can be done to a national park by using it to temporarily house people.

He said he wants the bill passed to ensure that “the public lands we all cherish are not transformed into squatting grounds.”

Lawmakers voted on two amendments to the bill, one from Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles and another from New York Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez.

<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/OGLES_326_xml231128114506785.pdf?_gl=1*mwhub4*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTkxNC4wLjAuMA..">The amendment</a>&nbsp;from Ogles would require the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress on the number of immigrants who were housed on federal lands.

“This amendment requires accountability,” Ogles said.

Grijalva said the amendment was unnecessary because the bill, if passed into law, would ban migrants from being temporarily housed on federal lands.

“It’s a permanent requirement for reporting on nothing, paid for by the taxpayer,” he said.

The other<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/VELAZQ_059_xml231122114954056.pdf?_gl=1*brsgpl*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTk3NC4wLjAuMA..">&nbsp;amendment</a>, by Velázquez, would allow the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to provide housing for migrants under certain criteria.

They would include when the original state those migrants came to has transferred them to another state; the original state has funded that transportation; the original state has not given 48 hours of notice to the governor of the destination state; and if the original state failed to give those migrants accurate information on the conditions of the state they are being transferred to.

That amendment is in response to Republican governors, especially Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who have sent buses of migrants to cities such as New York, often without warning local officials.

Abbott has also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-abbott-migrant-buses-washington-kamala-harris-title-42/#:~:text=Abbott%27s%20office%20launched%20the%20controversial,given%20the%20option%20by%20officials.">sent buses to Washington, D.C.</a>, dropping off migrants, in the cold and without proper clothing, outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked by Biden to address the root causes of migration along the Southern border.

The Velázquez amendment failed, 206 to 223.

BY:&nbsp;ARIANA FIGUEROA&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2023/03/30/u-s-judge-rules-insurers-dont-have-to-cover-many-free-preventive-health-services/">States Newsroom</a>WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Thursday passed a bill to bar the use of public lands for temporary housing for migrants applying for asylum.The bill,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5283/cosponsors?s=4&amp;r=2&amp;q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22H.R.+5283%22%7D">H.R. 5283</a>, passed with a majority of Republicans in support,<a target="_blank" href="https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2023689?Page=2">&nbsp;224-203.&nbsp;</a>&nbsp;The GOP members from Kansas and Missouri supported the measure.Six Democrats voted with Republicans: Reps. Henry Cuellar of Texas, Don Davis of North Carolina, Jared Golden of Maine, Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez of Washington.It’s dead on arrival in the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority, and many Democrats criticized the bill as a messaging tactic for the 2024 elections, where hard-line immigration policies are the cornerstone of the GOP platform.The Senate is currently negotiating a $14 billion request from the White House for U.S. border security.“The mission of the National Park Service is to conserve the natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of future generations, not bail out the failed border policies of the Biden administration,” the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, said during debate Wednesday.The push for the bill comes after the Biden administration granted New York City officials’ request to build temporary housing and facilities for migrant families at Floyd Bennett Field in Southeastern Brooklyn.The bill prohibits this type of action from land under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Forest Service.It also revokes a 2023 lease between the National Park Service and New York City to use portions of the Gateway National Recreation Area to provide housing for migrants.The bill’s sponsor, Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, said that New York City’s decision to house migrant families on public land is “encouraging people to take that treacherous journey instead of applying (for asylum) from the next safe country.”<h2>Migrants in NYC</h2>This is not the first time House Republicans have passed legislation in response to New York City’s handling of migrants in its city.<a target="_blank" href="https://missouriindependent.com/2023/07/20/public-schools-banned-from-sheltering-migrants-under-bill-passed-by-u-s-house/">In July, House Republicans passed a bill</a>&nbsp;to bar the use of public K-12 school facilities to provide shelter for migrants seeking asylum. That bill, which will also go nowhere in the Senate, was in response to a May decision by New York City officials to convert several current and former school gyms to temporarily house about 300 migrants.The top Democrat on the House Committee on Natural Resources, Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, said the bill voted on Thursday to bar the use of public lands to temporarily house migrants was a “political stunt that will invite even more hateful anti-immigration rhetoric from the extreme MAGA wing of the Republican Party.”During the House Rules Committee meeting on the public lands bill Tuesday, Republicans argued that the area used to house migrants at Floyd Bennett Field&nbsp; posed a danger to Americans who live nearby because there are single adult men in the temporary structures. However, a majority of migrants staying at Floyd Bennett Field are families.About 500 people are currently living at Floyd Bennett Field for up to 60 days, but it can house up to 2,000 people,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/foia/upload/FINAL-Lease-Floyd-Bennet-Field-09-15-2023-2.pdf">according to the lease agreement</a>. As temperatures drop in New York City, there’s concern that the plastic tents will not be warm enough for those families,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.thecity.nyc/2023/11/22/floyd-bennett-field-shelter-families-cold/">THE CITY reported</a>.Minnesota Republican Rep. Pete Stauber said the bill is needed because “Republicans are taking action to address our Southern border crisis, because the Biden administration has failed to do so.”Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree of Maine, said the bill does not help cities dealing with newly arrived migrants. She said a big issue is that because of the current asylum law, migrants have to wait six months before they are authorized to work.Pingree advocated for her legislation, which would cut that waiting period to 30 days so that migrants aren’t spending six months relying “on social safety nets to survive.”The Biden administration<a target="_blank" href="https://alabamareflector.com/2023/09/21/biden-administration-offers-temporary-protection-to-venezuelan-migrants/">&nbsp;recently redesignated the Temporary Protected Status&nbsp;</a>for nearly half a million Venezuelan nationals, which allows them to work in the U.S. The September decision came after multiple requests from cities that have struggled to house asylum seekers and calls from Democratic lawmakers to redesignate TPS for those Venezuelan nationals.New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bob Menendez said that Republicans were vilifying families seeking refuge.“This bill has no purpose other than to score cheap political points for House Republicans,” he said.Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, who came to the U.S. as an immigrant when he was a child and later became a naturalized citizen, argued that New York City’s decision would encourage migrants to make the long and dangerous journey to the U.S.“This is no way to treat immigrants seeking asylum,” Ciscomani said.<h2>National parks and citizens</h2>House Republicans argued that national parks should be solely for the use of&nbsp; American citizens.“Americans shouldn’t be denied access to national parks and lands paid for by their tax dollars because of this administration’s destructive immigration policies,” Rep. Jen Kiggans, Republican of Virginia, said.However, national parks are not limited to use for only American citizens, as there is no citizenship requirement to enter a park and&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.doi.gov/ocl/national-parks-visitation">millions of international visitors attend national parks each year.&nbsp;</a>Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin said that he was concerned about the damage that can be done to a national park by using it to temporarily house people.He said he wants the bill passed to ensure that “the public lands we all cherish are not transformed into squatting grounds.”<h2>Amendments considered</h2>Lawmakers voted on two amendments to the bill, one from Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles and another from New York Democratic Rep. Nydia Velázquez.<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/OGLES_326_xml231128114506785.pdf?_gl=1*mwhub4*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTkxNC4wLjAuMA..">The amendment</a>&nbsp;from Ogles would require the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture to submit a report to Congress on the number of immigrants who were housed on federal lands.“This amendment requires accountability,” Ogles said.Grijalva said the amendment was unnecessary because the bill, if passed into law, would ban migrants from being temporarily housed on federal lands.“It’s a permanent requirement for reporting on nothing, paid for by the taxpayer,” he said.The amendment passed by a voice vote.The other<a target="_blank" href="https://amendments-rules.house.gov/amendments/VELAZQ_059_xml231122114954056.pdf?_gl=1*brsgpl*_ga*MjA4NDA3MzkxNi4xNjk1MDQ0NzAx*_ga_N4RTJ5D08B*MTcwMTM1NTg5OC44LjEuMTcwMTM1NTk3NC4wLjAuMA..">&nbsp;amendment</a>, by Velázquez, would allow the U.S. Secretary of the Interior to provide housing for migrants under certain criteria.They would include when the original state those migrants came to has transferred them to another state; the original state has funded that transportation; the original state has not given 48 hours of notice to the governor of the destination state; and if the original state failed to give those migrants accurate information on the conditions of the state they are being transferred to.That amendment is in response to Republican governors, especially Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who have sent buses of migrants to cities such as New York, often without warning local officials.Abbott has also&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/11/texas-abbott-migrant-buses-washington-kamala-harris-title-42/#:~:text=Abbott%27s%20office%20launched%20the%20controversial,given%20the%20option%20by%20officials.">sent buses to Washington, D.C.</a>, dropping off migrants, in the cold and without proper clothing, outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been tasked by Biden to address the root causes of migration along the Southern border.The Velázquez amendment failed, 206 to 223.

U.S. House votes to bar use of public lands for housing migrants

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;later claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel, but did not acknowledge targeting a U.S. Navy vessel.

The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war.

“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available,” the Pentagon told The Associated Press.

The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. It remained unclear what damage, if any, the vessels sustained in the attacks.

The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/red-sea">the Red Sea</a>, without elaborating.

The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. He described the ships as allegedly ignoring warnings from Houthi officials prior to the attack.

Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack.

Saree identified the first vessel attacked as the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The second was a Panamanian-flagged container ship called Number 9, which is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the two vessels could not be immediately reached for comment.

The Houthis have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel amid the war.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack began about 10 a.m. in Sanaa, Yemen, and had gone on for as much as five hours. Another U.S. official who similarly spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason said the Carney had intercepted at least one drone during the attack.

Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">a truce briefly halted fighting</a>&nbsp;and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming.

Earlier in November, the Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen.

However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-general-news-united-states-presidential-election-f03b50ff873a471c88ebb1538c1e3dc9">destroyed three coastal radar sites</a>&nbsp;in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/houthis">Yemen's Houthi rebels</a>&nbsp;later claimed attacks on two ships they described as being linked to Israel, but did not acknowledge targeting a U.S. Navy vessel.The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war.“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available,” the Pentagon told The Associated Press.The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. It remained unclear what damage, if any, the vessels sustained in the attacks.The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/red-sea">the Red Sea</a>, without elaborating.The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from. However, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks, saying the first vessel was hit by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. He described the ships as allegedly ignoring warnings from Houthi officials prior to the attack.Saree did not mention any U.S. warship being involved in the attack.“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree said. “The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”Saree identified the first vessel attacked as the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer, which is owned by a British firm that includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers. The second was a Panamanian-flagged container ship called Number 9, which is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. Managers for the two vessels could not be immediately reached for comment.Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.The Houthis have been launching a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea, as well as launching drones and missiles targeting Israel amid the war.A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, said the attack began about 10 a.m. in Sanaa, Yemen, and had gone on for as much as five hours. Another U.S. official who similarly spoke on condition of anonymity for the same reason said the Carney had intercepted at least one drone during the attack.Global shipping had increasingly been targeted as the Israel-Hamas war threatens to become a wider regional conflict — even as&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-ceasefire-what-to-know-af1cfbc9dcaa1485ed7a9efaca7ec2b7">a truce briefly halted fighting</a>&nbsp;and Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, the collapse of the truce and the resumption of punishing Israeli airstrikes and its ground offensive there had raised the risk of the seaborne attacks resuming.Earlier in November, the Houthis&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-red-sea-ship-yemen-houthis-65b611ff878a411900037e7c9a8ee17b">seized a vehicle transport ship</a>&nbsp;also linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Missiles also landed near another U.S. warship last week after it assisted a vessel linked to Israel that had briefly been seized by gunmen.However, the Houthis had not directly targeted the Americans for some time, further raising the stakes in the growing maritime conflict. In 2016, the U.S. launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/events-general-news-united-states-presidential-election-f03b50ff873a471c88ebb1538c1e3dc9">destroyed three coastal radar sites</a>&nbsp;in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at U.S. Navy ships at the time.

US warship, multiple commercial ships under attack in the Red Sea

NEW YORK (AP) — Flu is picking up steam while RSV lung infections that can hit kids and older people hard may be peaking, U.S. health officials said Friday.

COVID-19, though, continues to cause the most hospitalizations and deaths among respiratory illnesses — about 15,000 hospitalizations and about 1,000 deaths every week, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The agency is also looking into reports of pneumonia outbreaks in children in two states, but Cohen said “there is no evidence" that they are due to anything unusual.

As for the flu season, seven states were reporting high levels of flu-like illnesses in early November. In a new CDC report on Friday, the agency said the tally was up to 11 states — mostly in the South and Southwest.

In the last month, RSV infections rose sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states. But "we think we’re near the peak of RSV season or will be in the next week or so," Cohen said.

RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of mild coldlike symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and older people.

Cohen was asked about pneumonia cases in children reported in Massachusetts and in Warren County, Ohio, near Cincinnati. There are a number of possible causes of the lung infection, and it can be a complication of COVID-19, flu, or RSV.

In Ohio, health officials have reported 145 cases since August and most of the children recovered at home. The illnesses were caused by a variety of common viruses and bacteria, officials said.

Massachusetts health officials said there’s been a modest increase in pneumonia in kids but that it is appropriate for the season.

China recently had a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-respiratory-illnesses-who-ff6da613bf15d6848f12095b8e0d8fd1">surge in respiratory illnesses</a>&nbsp;which health officials there attributed to the flu and other customary causes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701471467343.png" alt="CDC map" />
 <figcaption>CDC map</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Flu is picking up steam while RSV lung infections that can hit kids and older people hard may be peaking, U.S. health officials said Friday.COVID-19, though, continues to cause the most hospitalizations and deaths among respiratory illnesses — about 15,000 hospitalizations and about 1,000 deaths every week, said Dr. Mandy Cohen, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The agency is also looking into reports of pneumonia outbreaks in children in two states, but Cohen said “there is no evidence" that they are due to anything unusual.As for the flu season, seven states were reporting high levels of flu-like illnesses in early November. In a new CDC report on Friday, the agency said the tally was up to 11 states — mostly in the South and Southwest.In the last month, RSV infections rose sharply in some parts of the country, nearly filling hospital emergency departments in Georgia, Texas and some other states. But "we think we’re near the peak of RSV season or will be in the next week or so," Cohen said.RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of mild coldlike symptoms but it can be dangerous for infants and older people.Cohen was asked about pneumonia cases in children reported in Massachusetts and in Warren County, Ohio, near Cincinnati. There are a number of possible causes of the lung infection, and it can be a complication of COVID-19, flu, or RSV.In Ohio, health officials have reported 145 cases since August and most of the children recovered at home. The illnesses were caused by a variety of common viruses and bacteria, officials said.Massachusetts health officials said there’s been a modest increase in pneumonia in kids but that it is appropriate for the season.China recently had a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/china-respiratory-illnesses-who-ff6da613bf15d6848f12095b8e0d8fd1">surge in respiratory illnesses</a>&nbsp;which health officials there attributed to the flu and other customary causes.

Flu is on the rise while RSV infections may be peaking, US health officials say

TOKYO (AP) — A search continued Saturday for seven missing military personnel following the crash of an Osprey off the coast of southern Japan, and a body pulled from the ocean was formally identified.

Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was formally identified by the the Air Force Special Operations Command on Saturday, after tributes had begun pouring in the day before.

His family issued a statement Saturday saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wife, two children and other family members.

TOKYO (AP) — A search continued Saturday for seven missing military personnel following the crash of an Osprey off the coast of southern Japan, and a body pulled from the ocean was formally identified.Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was formally identified by the the Air Force Special Operations Command on Saturday, after tributes had begun pouring in the day before.His family issued a statement Saturday saying it was in mourning and asking for privacy and prayers for his wife, two children and other family members.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FPittsfieldPolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0BvaGmgPeiZjkGG5bGr2VHxDeo1FuN93JavXpKbpoAvfnPQ1mfme5hvTjRPvVLBvNl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="775" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>“Jacob was an incredible son, brother, husband, father and friend to so many. His short life touched and made better the lives of hundreds, if not thousands in Pittsfield, in this region and everywhere he served,” the family said. “Jacob lived to serve his family, his country and the people he loved.”Galliher was the only crew member recovered while the others remained missing after the crash on Wednesday off Yakushima Island. Participants in the search operation Saturday included the U.S military, Japanese Self Defense Force, Coast Guard, law enforcement and civilian volunteers.“We want to assure our air commandos’ families that our efforts will continue and include every possible capability at our disposal,” said Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, Pacific commander for the Special Operations Command.The cause of the crash, which occurred during a training mission, was under investigation.U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command said the CV-22B Osprey was one of six deployed to Yokota Air Base, home to U.S. Forces Japan and the Fifth Air Force, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing.The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that takes off and lands like a helicopter but can tilt its propellers horizontally to fly like an airplane while aloft. U.S. Osprey operations continued in Japan, but the remaining five Ospreys from the squadron involved in Wednesday’s crash weren’t flying, officials said Friday.